Page 88 of Ecliptic

“That’s one thing we agree on.”

He kept his gaze on the heavens. “My parents cared more about the family business than anything else. Everything we did was to maintain the perfect image. It was exhausting. And it was a lie. My whole life was mapped out before I was even born. Even my engagement was arranged.”

My heart lurched.

When Maddock possessed my body, he’d glimpsed into my memories, but I had seen his too, and I remembered flashing through his revolving door of women.

“That’s awful, and I know you were in pain. I felt it. But that’s no excuse for how you treated her. You slept with other women,” I said, revulsion creeping up my throat.

“She wasn’t exactly faithful herself, and I know that’s not a good excuse,” he replied with a sigh. “When I was in the crevice, I was in never-ending agony, but I didn’t regret. Ilonged. Now, I regret almost everything I’ve ever done. I died a disappointment to my friends, parents, and fiancée. I never cared about the family business as much as they did. Even when I tried—really tried—it was never enough.”

A lump rose in my throat when I realized how much we had in common, how deeply our stories reflected each other’s. “I know the feeling. My parents had a company with an image to protect as well. I was a stain upon that image. One they tried to scrub clean no matter how much it rubbed me raw.”

“Your parents weren’t kind to you,” Maddock said, his eyes shifting from the heavens to me, his gaze piercing. “Even in your memories I could see that. They stole your life from you.”

A pang hit me in my chest. “If your life was all preplanned, they stole yours too.”

He nodded. “I tried to follow the path my father laid out for me, but I even failed at that, and it felt like my life was over. It was then I realized how much I had lost myself along the way. That’s when I got on my bike. I knew it wasn’t smart, but I was broken.”

The lump in my throat grew.

“I thought my life was over, and I had such little regard for it anyway. My time in the crevice showed me just how alive I was. How everything I thought was important in life really wasn’t. I had it all backwards. Was it like that for you?”

I hesitated, unsure how much I wanted to divulge to Maddock, but something in his eyes made me want to open up. “No. It was the opposite. I knew there was more to life, more to love. I just didn’t know how to reach it. It all felt so far beyond my grasp, that to even hope for it felt like a form of self-torture.”

“We’re two sides of the same coin,” he said, a look of shared understanding on his face. “Yet somehow, we both ended up here. Despite everything, and I’m so damn thankful for that. Thankful for you.”

I hadn’t realized he was holding my hand, his thumb gently tracing circles on my skin. My chest fluttered with warmth, but I immediately jolted away.

I had wanted to open up, but not like this—not enough for him to slip through my cracks and use our connection against me.

My sacred bond felt ripped out of my chest, and suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in my soul flame’s arms.

I took what I felt and pushed it down my bond to Rowen, letting him know I was thinking about him.

I stood up quickly and dusted off my pants. “We better get back to the village.”

We returned to the Wyn village in a swift, silent journey, taking no time to marvel at the shimmering strands of life. I kept my gaze forward, ready for this night to be over.

I sure as hell didn’t want to spend any more time with my bond stealer.

Weary from how much energy I’d expended and nervous that Rowen hadn’t made it back yet, I picked at my nails. Our connection told me he was alive, his flame flickering strong and steady within my chest. It was a quiet comfort, yet I still found myself biting my nails down to the quick, tearing until they bled.

Maddock grabbed my wrist, his touch stalling my breath. “Easy,” he murmured, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “He’s all right, Keira. If you bite down on those anymore, you won’t have any fingers left. And that worries me greatly. Rowen said whatever happens to you happens to me. And I would really like to keep my hands in one piece. So cool it. He’s fine.”

His eyes perused my face, and his intense stare caused unwanted heat to rise in my cheeks. I cleared my throat and ripped my hand away, annoyed that Madds could feel Rowen in any capacity. “I know, I feel him too,” I retorted, sending Rowen another wave of warmth down the bond.

Suddenly, Nepta appeared at the edge of the clearing, her arms welcoming and her face anxious yet hopeful.

I let out a relieved breath.

“What news?” she asked, her senses telling her where we stood.

“The blades worked,” I said, patting Mithrion at my thigh. “And we brought the Ever-burn star back to life. She glows. Beautifully.”

“Thank the spirits,” Nepta exhaled, a breath that felt years in the making. “And the warriors?”

“Returned to the heavens,” I said solemnly, the heaviness in my heart reflected in the tone of my voice.

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