Chapter 99

The room was eerily silent as night fell, the weight of impending magic pressing down on Aelin and Arsen like a suffocating fog. The ritual had to begin before midnight, before the spell drained what little remained of their bond. Forrest stood at the center of the ritual chamber, an ancient book spread open before him, its pages filled with ominous symbols that pulsed with an unnatural energy.

Aelin clenched her hands into fists, forcing herself to breathe evenly. "What do we have to do?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling in her chest.

Forrest flipped a page carefully. "You and Arsen must stand within the circle," he gestured toward the intricate markings drawn onto the stone floor. "Once the ritual begins, you’ll have to endure the unraveling. The spell will attempt to convince you to let go, to forget each other. If either of you hesitates, even for a moment, it will take everything."

Arsen’s grip on her hand tightened. "We won’t hesitate."

Forrest nodded but didn’t look convinced. "You need to mean that, Arsen. This spell is ancient and cruel. It will use your own fears against you. If you let it break you, even for a second, it will erase everything. The bond, the love, the memories—you’ll be strangers."

Aelin shivered. She had already endured the agony of their bond weakening, of the void stretching between them. She wouldn’t—couldn’t—lose him completely. "We’re ready."

Forrest inhaled sharply. "Then let’s begin."

He stepped back, murmuring the incantation under his breath. The runes etched into the floor began to glow, an eerie red light casting flickering shadows along the walls. The air grew colder, crackling with raw power.

Aelin felt it instantly—the pull of the magic, the slow, insidious grasp reaching inside her. Her breath hitched as pain lanced through her chest, her bond with Arsen unraveling thread by agonizing thread.

Arsen gritted his teeth, his fingers trembling against hers. "Aelin—stay with me."

She tried to focus on his voice, but the spell was relentless. It whispered to her, coaxed her into surrender. This pain isn’t worth it. Let go. Forget. Be free.

Memories flickered in and out of her mind. Their first meeting. Their first fight. The moment she realized she loved him. Each one dimmed, slipping away like sand through her fingers.

"No!" she gasped, clawing at the emptiness. "Arsen—don’t let go!"

His grip tightened, his voice fierce. "Never."

Forrest’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Now! Give your offering!"

Aelin didn’t think. She reached deep within herself, grasping the frayed remnants of their connection, and pushed everything she had into the bond. A silent plea. A desperate promise.

Pain exploded behind her eyes, and then—

Light. Blinding, searing light.

The spell shattered around them with a deafening crack, the force of it sending Aelin reeling. Strong arms caught her before she could collapse.

"Aelin," Arsen’s voice was rough with emotion, his hands framing her face. "Are you—?"

She let out a breathless laugh, exhaustion crashing over her. "Still here. Still yours."

He exhaled shakily, pressing his forehead against hers. "Good. Because I don’t ever want to forget you."

Forrest sagged against the wall, wiping sweat from his brow. "That... was intense."

Aelin smiled weakly. "Is it over?"

Forrest nodded, relief flickering in his eyes. "Your bond is whole again. Stronger, even. The spell is gone."

She turned to Arsen, tears burning at the edges of her vision. They had won. Against all odds, they had won.

And she would never let go of him again.