Page 143 of The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny)

I tilted my head back against his shoulder. “You’re distractingly attractive when you’re being all intense and broody.”

“I don’t brood.”

“You’re literally brooding right now.”

“This is concentration.” But I could hear the smile in his voice. It made me ache to run my hands over his body and show him just how distracting he was.

“Show me again,” I said, surprising us both with the request. “The portal gesture.”

He slowly guided my hands through the motion. His beard tickled my ear as he spoke. “Feel the space. The air isn’t empty—it’s filled with potential. You’re not creating something from nothing; you’re reshaping what’s already there.”

I closed my eyes, trying to sense what he described. With his proximity, my magic responded more readily, rising to meet his. I could feel the edges of his dominion magic brushing against my own power. I concentrated, letting his power blend with mine.

And then—it clicked.

Reality tore open in front of me with a sound like silk ripping. A portal, no bigger than my fist, shimmered in the air in front of my face. Through it, I could see the other side of the training room, distorted and wavering but unmistakably there.

“I did it!” I gasped, triumph surging through me.

But the moment the words left my mouth, pain lanced through our connection. Kaz’s breath hitched, his hand spasming against my stomach. The portal winked out of existence.

“Your runes,” I said immediately, turning in his arms. The Heirloom pulsed against my skin, trying to sync with him—its rightful conduit for dominion magic. But something was fighting it, and that resistance was burning through his bones.

“It’s nothing.” He stepped back, creating distance between us. He ran a hand through his hair, and I caught the slight tremor in his fingers. “The runes are reactive today.”

“Let me help,” I offered, my healing magic already gathering at my fingertips.

“No,” he said brusquely. “It’s fine. Let’s continue.”

I dropped my hand, stung by his rejection but not surprised. Kazimir had always been stubbornly self-reliant when it came to his pain, refusing assistance even when it was clearly needed. Usually, I attributed this to pride, but lately, something else seemed to be driving his reluctance. He’d been pulling away more and more, ever since the ritual with the Alchemist.

I studied him, noting the tight lines around his eyes, the careful way he held himself.

“Is that why you agreed so quickly?” I asked suddenly. “To splitting up? To sending me to Meridian Isle?”

His expression shuttered. “You wanted autonomy. I’m giving it to you.”

“Bullshit.” My truth-sense tingled, not quite indicating a lie but definitely suggesting an omission.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me.” I crossed my arms. “You never agree to anything that easily. Especially not when it involves me being out of your sight for more than five minutes.”

“Perhaps I’m evolving. It’s what you wanted, right?”

I stepped closer and reached for him. He caught my wrists, holding me at bay. “Why are your runes getting worse?”

His gaze searched mine. “My runes have always caused me pain. You know this.”

“Yes.” I looked between us at my trapped hands. “But what about this distance you keep putting between us? This wall you’re building?”

“Protection,” he said quietly.

“From what?”

His grip on my wrists tightened. “From me.” I could see the war in his eyes—the desire to pull me close battling with the need to push me away.

“I can handle myself, Kazimir. And I can handle you.”