My bear roars defiance, but exhaustion drags at my limbs. The fight with the Guardian has taken more than I expected. Blood streams from the wounds on my back and shoulder, and the grey nothing is starting to seep into them. Corruption. Again.
Through the bond, I feel Maren's alarm spike. She can feel me weakening, feel the shadow realm trying to reclaim me.
The Guardian reforms fully, all of its manifestations coalescing into one massive form. It towers above me, a mountain of living darkness with too many eyes and a hunger that goes beyond physical need.
"You should have stayed trapped," it says. "Now you'll die here. And your mate will watch you fade through that precious bond of yours. Feel you die. Feel you become shadow."
"No." I force myself to my feet, legs shaking. "That's not how this ends."
"Then how does it end, little bear?" The Guardian moves closer, and the temperature drops until frost forms on my fur. "You're injured. Exhausted. Alone in my domain. Your mate cannot reach you here. Her power sustains you, yes, but it's not enough to destroy me."
The truth of its words settles like lead in my stomach. Maren's channeling keeps me anchored, keeps me from fading, but I can't kill this thing. Not alone. Not like this.
The Guardian knows it too. I can feel its satisfaction radiating through the grey nothing.
"Submit," it whispers. "Accept the shadow. Become what you were always meant to be. And I will let your mate live. I will seal the tear from this side, trap the corruption here where it belongs. All you have to do is stay."
Stay. Give up. Let the shadow realm have me in exchange for Maren's safety.
The offer is poison wrapped in logic.
Through the bond, I feel Maren screaming denial. Feel her pouring more power into the connection, refusing to let me even consider it. Her love burns through me, fierce and absolute.
"She cannot save you," the Guardian says softly. "But you can save her. Choose, Jonah Hayes. Your life for hers. Your freedom for her safety."
The forms close in, circling, waiting for my answer.
And I realize the Guardian is right about one thing—I can't kill it alone.
But I'm not alone.
I've never been alone.
The mate bond blazes between dimensions, connecting me to Maren with unbreakable strength. She channels ley line energy through it, keeping me anchored. But what if the bond could do more? What if instead of just holding me here, it could bring her here?
The thought is insane. Dangerous. Everything I've been trying to prevent.
But it might be the only way to win.
Through the bond, I reach for her. Not just accepting her power, but pulling. Calling. Demanding.
Come to me,I send through the connection.I need you here. Now.
The Guardian realizes what I'm doing and roars. Its forms lunge forward, trying to stop me before Maren can cross.
But the mate bond is stronger than shadow. Older than this realm. Forged in magic that predates corruption.
Golden light explodes at the edge of my awareness. The dimensional barrier tears open—not the jagged tear that brought me here, but a clean rip along the mate bond itself.
And Maren steps through, surrounded by blazing ley line energy, her bear form massive and perfect and absolutely furious.
The Guardian screams.
Because now we're both here. Both fighting. Both protected by a bond it can't break.
CHAPTER 13
MAREN
