Page 193 of Elemental Becoming

The words die in my throat as the pieces click into place. But I thought it. A sharp pulse of realization moves through me.

“You heard that?” I whisper.

Thane nods once, his expression shifting with the same disbelief tightening inside me. “Yeah,” he says quietly. “I did.”

For one suspended heartbeat, neither of us breathes.

I push myself up slightly, propping onto one elbow. “Well,” I say, trying to ignore the wobble in my voice, “maybe it’s just you. Maybe something about your magics—”

Before I can finish, another thought slips loose.

“Is he just as panicked as I am right now?”

I don’t say the words aloud. Barely even register thinking them before Thane’s eyes widen.

“Amara,” he breathes, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just heard that.”

Cold realization floods through me. “Heard what?”

“You . . . ” He exhales sharply, disbelief flickering across his face. “You wondered if I’m as panicked as you are.”

Heat rushes into my face. I definitely did not say that outloud.

“What the hell?” I whisper.

He places a hand to my cheek, his fingers brushing gently across my skin like he’s still reassuring himself I’m really here.

“I think I can hear your thoughts,” he says quietly. “The same way we speak with the dragons. Mind to mind.”

A stunned silence hangs between us.

Everything suddenly feels different. Closer. More intimate than anything I’ve ever experienced before.

A shaky laugh slips from me as I try to hide the uncertainty creeping into my voice.

“Well . . . that’s new.” I wet my lips, still trying to process it all. “The bond keeps evolving.”

“It does.”

Silence settles between us again for several moments as we both absorb the weight of it.

“How much further do you think it will go?” I murmur, wondering out loud.

“I don’t know.” His gaze holds mine steadily. “But whatever happens next . . . ” He exhales softly. “We’ll figure it out.”

His hand slides along my back, drawing me closer.

“Together.”

The quiet certainty in his voice settles deep inside me.

“Go to sleep.”

Softly, he presses a kiss to my nose.

I settle against him, letting the quiet of the room settle around us. His breathing eases into an even rhythm, though a lingering tension still hums beneath it. I tell myself it’s only the aftermath of everything we survived tonight.

We’ll figure it out.