Page 106 of Unveiled

Xiathen moved to the bedside, his eyes wide with horror. “The mark isn’t only reacting,” he said, “it’s feeding. The anchors are drawing on him, testing his strength. Testing the tether.”

Connor’s head snapped up. “Testing it for what?”

“To break it.”

Connor’s heart slammed against his ribs. “Over my dead body.”

Xiathen didn’t smile. “That is precisely what the Council intends.”

“Connor,” Adrian gasped, clutching Connor’s forearm with shocking strength.

Connor squeezed back hard. “You’re not going anywhere.”

The mark bucked again, and Adrian convulsed.

“Xiathen,” Connor snapped. “Stop it. You’re the lore-keeper, fix it.”

“I can’t.” Xiathen stepped back, pale. “The mark is active because the Veil is active. You can’t stop a storm by yelling at the wind.”

Connor snarled. “Then give me something that will help.”

Xiathen hesitated. “There is only one way to quiet a mark that is feeding.”

Connor’s grip tightened on Adrian. “Say it.”

“You must override it. Anchor him. Not physically. Metaphysically.”

Connor’s breath left him. “How?”

Xiathen’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Through the bond.”

Connor shook his head. “We already did the vow. It nearly killed him.”

“And he will die,” Xiathen whispered, “if the mark consumes him now.”

The ground trembled again. Something deep in the valley let out a low, echoing groan.

Connor bent over Adrian, pressing his forehead to Adrian’s. “Adrian. Stay with me. I’m going to stop it.”

Adrian’s breath hitched. “How?”

Connor closed his eyes. “By coming with you.”

Adrian’s eyes widened—silver-white with pain but trusting. “Connor, no. It’s not safe.”

“I don’t care.”

“I do. If anything happens to you, your clan, your people—”

“Don’t worry about my clan,” Connor growled. “They’d drag me into the Veil themselves if it meant keeping you alive.”

Adrian made a weak noise that was almost a laugh.

Xiathen placed trembling hands on both their shoulders. “Connor Brannigan, listen carefully. When the mark pulls him under, it will try to take him alone. But if you let the tether widen, let the bond open, you can follow. But you must choose the shape of the path.”

“What does that mean?” Connor snapped.

“It means,” Xiathen whispered, “that Adrian will not be the only one dreaming now. You must walk into your own mind.”