The world broke. Snapped. No—the thread broke. The link between them. Colin’s magic—
He landed on both knees. No chance to catch himself. Shock like a spear through unsuspecting lungs.
Every bruise and pain leapt in to remind him that he’d just run three times through a burning building. He wasn’t hurt, more like the reminder that he should’ve been hurt, singed hair and unclothed arms, as his shields gave up final ghosts and vanished, leaving heat enough to warm his back but not burn—
He couldn’t feel mischievous velvet. Couldn’t find tabby-striped woodsmoke presence in his head. Empty.
Scoured clean. By fire.
Colin had never withdrawn. Had opened up every part of himself to meeting David’s frantic demands for more strength, safeguards, walking on ruined air.
He howled at himself to
