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"To you, sure." I keep my eyes locked on the flicker of Serenity I can see beneath the entity's influence. "But they mean everything to her."

Our foreheads touch, and I let the beastly part of me surface enough that my eyes blaze. The ancient bond wakes and hums with a connection that predates the concepts of magic or blood. It is written into the fabric of our souls, and I’m struck by the change: her magic now views mine as a stronghold instead of a threat.

"The lore says soul-bonded pairs can share magical loads," I continue, rough with the strain of staying human while power tears through the air around us. "You don't have to contain this thing alone. Let me help carry the weight."

Serenity's eyes zone in on mine, fading back to gray for precious seconds. "It could kill you."

"It'll definitely kill you if you try this alone." I slide my hands down to her wrists, covering the blazing crescent moon tattoos with my palms. "I've been anchoring your magic since we first met without realizing it. This is just... more."

The entity thrashes against our connection, trying to sever the bond before it can fully form. But I hold on, pouring every ounce of my will into our link.

"You have to trust me," I whisper against her ear. "Trust us."

For a heartbeat, Serenity hesitates. Then she exhales slowly and lets her barriers drop, opening the bond completely.

The moonlike power hits me, flooding through our connection with an impact that brings me to my knees. Under the laws of the ancient ritual, a single mortal vessel should have been consumed by the overflow, but the old magic never accounted for two souls bearing the burden as one. By utilizing our soul-bond, the current bridges our spirits and lets the wolf-strength in my bones act as a buttress. It distributes the fatal burden evenly across our connection, safely containing the volatile entity within a unified vessel built to endure the punishment.

The entity screams in fury as its grip on Serenity weakens. "No! We will not be divided!"

"Too late," Serenity gasps, her voice finally her own again as the bond stabilizes. The veins in her skin dim, and since entering this chamber, she looks human instead of possessed.

But the chamber continues crumbling around us while the entity fights to break free of our shared containment. This is merely the beginning.

The chamber shudders violently, chunks of ancient stone crashing down around us. Through the dust and debris, I can see paranormals chained to the ritual altars, terror etched across their faces as the ceiling threatens to cave in.

"Kellan, get them out!" I roar over the grinding sound of collapsing masonry.

My brother appears through the smoke, blood streaking down one side of his face, moving with the effortless rhythm of a seasoned soldier. "There are too many of them!" He moves a little stiffly, a momentary lag in his step giving away just how heavily he's relying on the accelerated healing magic to keep him upright. "We don't have time to cut through all these chains before the ceiling gives way!"

Serenity steadies herself against my shoulder, the soul bond rippling around us as she regains her footing. The selenic power feels more controlled now, distributed evenly rather than consuming her.

"I've got this," she says while raising her hands. A massive, chamber-wide shockwave of magic erupts from her palms. The argent energy washes over the walls, and every chain binding the hundreds of prisoners dissolves into harmless dust.

"Everyone move!" Kellan yells to Lynn and Nolan, pivoting to crowd control. "Direct them to the north tunnel evacuation point! Lynn, grab Estella!"

Through the dust, I catch a glimpse of Malachai chanting frantically near the shattered altar, trying to stabilize the failing ritual, while Lynn catches Estella as she slumps forward. "Get her out of here!" I yell.

"Well, well." The voice rings out over the chaos, capturing our attention. "This is very touching. The little Crowe witch thinks she can play hero."

Sybil steps through the rubble as if she's walking through a garden party, her white ritual dress pristine despite the destruction. Her eyes gleam with vicious satisfaction as she surveys the carnage.

"Did you really think you could hide from me? I was already there through every safe house and quiet moment you thought belonged to you and your wolf, curled up inside your skull like a second heartbeat."

A sharp edge enters Serenity's expression, her magic sparking fiercely through our bond. "We already know you've been playing parlor tricks in my head, Sybil. You're not as intimidating as you think you are."

"Oh, I think I am. I watched you flinch at shadows for weeks, darling, and question your own sanity every time you spotted platinum blonde hair in a crowd. Would you like to hear the best part? Even after you realized it was me, you couldn't keep me out."

The temperature in the chamber drops twenty degrees as Serenity's power flares, but Sybil only laughs.

"Careful, little witch. You wouldn't want to lose control again and accidentally hurt your precious wolf."

Another section of ceiling crashes down behind us, and I can hear Kellan shouting orders to the rescue team. But Sybil advances on Serenity with the confidence of a champion beast.

"I've been inside your head for a while now," she purrs, magic beginning to coil around her fingers. "Did you think breaking my tracking spell at the motel severed our connection? You only shattered the physical tether, darling. The psychic backdoor you left wide open in your panic was so much more useful. I know exactly which buttons to push."

Serenity steps away from me, the aroma of ozone thickening the air around her. "Then you know I'm done running from psychotic witches."

The first spell flies between them like a streak of lightning.