Chapter 83
Kailorien was in the Crucible Yard’s training ring in the Varrow when it happened. Something shattered. His heart nearly burst. Bile rose in his throat. With a gasp, he dropped the blade in his hand. His vision blurred, his chest burned as though molten metal had been poured onto his skin.
NO. Not just pain. Violation.
The Bond shrieked through his core—her voice, not words but sheer mindless terror.
“Auryn,” he gasped. Then louder, “Auryn!”
Auryn’s body convulsed against the altar. White light seared her Manasight. The chamber wailed in silence only she could hear—tatters of souls shrieking as the Godblind tore into her flesh.
TAKE ME INTO YOU! BURN THEM! LET ME DEVOUR THEM ALL!
Something stirred.
Deep within.
Stirred and opened its eyes truly for the first time.
Kailorien staggered, clutching his chest, nails digging into flesh as if he could claw her presence back into him. The Bond writhed, spasmed—then snapped taut.
Nothing.
The thread that had always been there—warm, steady, constant—was gone. Not cut. Not broken. Worse. Empty. A hollow silence where her light should have been.
He froze, breath tearing shallow. His vision swam. His chest heaved. Where was SHE? Where had SHE gone?
Something cracked.
Inside him.
Deep within.
A fracture that bled light and storm into every vein, every breath.
Something answered the silence.
Forged to protect.
Forged to serve.
Forged to obey.
And now—as SHE called—
It opened its eyes truly for the first time.