The thorn crown

"You're avoiding me."

Kael's voice was quiet. Too quiet.

I kept my back turned, pretending to study the trail maps we'd stolen from the outpost. My hands were shaking.

I hoped he didn't see it.

"I'm focused," I said flatly. "You should try it sometime."

He didn't rise to the bait.

Didn't move either.

Just stood in the doorway of the ruined tower, watching me like I might vanish if he blinked.

"You felt it too. Back in the cave."

I said nothing.

"You saw me," he continued, stepping forward. "You fed on me."

That made me flinch.

He noticed.

I slammed the maps down and spun on him. "You think I wanted that? You think I meant to?"

"No," he cut in, low and steady. "But it happened. And it's getting stronger."

I looked away.

"I don't know what's happening to me, Kael," I said, voice cracking. "I'm not just null anymore. I'm....Gods, I'm something else."

"You're not dangerous," he said instantly.

"How would you know?" I snapped. "You don't feel me the way I feel you."

He crossed the room in two strides, grabbed my wrist...not hard, but firm.

I didn't pull away.

"You think I don't feel you?" he said, voice rough. "Every breath, Ariya. Every time your heart races. Every time you shut down. I feel it all."

His eyes searched mine. "Don't push me out."

"I don't know how to let you in."

His hand moved up to my jaw. Gentle now. His thumb brushing the corner of my mouth like he didn't know he was doing it.

"You don't have to try," he whispered. "You already did."

I wanted to pull away.

To run.

To scream.

Instead....

I leaned in.

Just enough for our foreheads to touch.

Just enough to feel his warmth.

"You're not a monster," he said. "You're my mirror. My tether. If you fall, I fall."

"And if I burn?" I breathed.

He smiled, soft and sad.

"Then I'll burn with you."