"Anyone could pull you away with their strange magic," Malcolm sighed, his voice heavy with exhaustion and something darker. "Anyone could just—reach out and take you from me."

I pressed my palm against his, threading our fingers together.

"What matters now is the magic link is gone," I said softly, patting his hand. "It's over, Malcolm. She's safe. I'm safe. We're both still here."

He looked at me—really looked—and for a moment, the possessiveness in his eyes softened into something almost vulnerable.

"For now," he murmured. "Yeah."

I squeezed his fingers tighter. "I'm not going anywhere."

But even as I said it, I felt the weight of his gaze following...