"She sounds stubborn."
"Stubborn doesn't cover it." Despite everything, I almost smile. "She's fierce. Determined. Terrified of being abandoned but brave enough to risk it anyway."
Eli's quiet for a moment. "She's perfect for you."
"Yeah. She is."
Beau stops by mid-afternoon, staying longer than Eli did. He doesn't push me to eat or sleep. Just sits with me, talking about nothing and everything. Giving me human contact that isn't just vigil and worry. A call he responded to last week. Tanner's latest school project. New brewing equipment he ordered for the tavern.
Normal things. Regular life continuing while mine hangs suspended.
"She's brave," Beau says quietly. "Reckless, maybe. But brave."
"She's perfect."
Day three. Sawyer stops by with his son Tanner, who's been asking about "Uncle Jonah's mate." The boy stands by the couch, solemn and worried in the way only children can be.
"Is she gonna be okay?" he asks.
"Yeah. She's just resting."
"Dad says she's a hero. That she saved everyone."
"Your dad's right."
After they leave, I keep talking to Maren about the family she's joined, the nephew who's already claimed her as an aunt. The life waiting for her if she'll just open her eyes.
"We'll travel. Document ley line convergences around the world. You'll photograph them, I'll study the marine connections. We'll make it our life's work."
Describing the children we might have someday. "If it's possible. If our bond is strong enough to create new life. Calder thinks it is." The thought terrifies and thrills me in equal measure. "They'd have your eyes. Your determination. Your absolute refusal to quit when things get hard."
My voice cracks. "But I need you here for that. I need you to wake up."
Something changes. Not much. Just the barest flutter of awareness through our connection. Like she heard me. Like she's trying to respond.
Leaning closer. "Maren? Can you hear me?"
Nothing. But the golden thread feels fractionally stronger. Less like spider silk, more like cord.
Day four. Exhaustion makes everything feel distant and unreal. Cilla forces me to shower and change clothes. When I come back, Calder is checking Maren again.
"She's stabilizing. The ley lines are feeding her more efficiently now. Her body's learning to accept and store the energy."
"When will she wake up?"
"Soon." He meets my eyes. "Keep talking to her. She's close."
So I do. Apologize for pulling her into the shadow realm. "I should have found another way. Should have protected you better."
Warmth flares between us. Suddenly I sense her. Not just the distant presence I've been tracking for days, but her consciousness. Awareness. Recognition. She's swimming up toward the surface, fighting through exhaustion to reach me.
Her eyes flutter once. Twice. Then open.
Eyes, slightly unfocused, stare up at me like she's not quite sure where she is or how she got here. Understanding filters in slowly. The confusion clearing. Memory returning.
"Did we win?" Her voice is barely a whisper, rough with disuse.
Relief crashes through me so hard I can barely breathe. Laughter comes out half sob. "Yeah, we won. You were amazing. Terrifying, but amazing."
