Torin
We sit in comfortable silence, watching the water below and the sky above. Two elements we embody. Two worlds we’re joining. Two futures we’re weaving into one.
“There’s still so much work ahead,” Zara says eventually. “Deep Runners who don’t trust the Alliance. Surface-dwellers who see the Citadel as exotic but not equal. Resistance from both sides. Caspian’s followers who think we’re traitors.”
“I know.” I squeeze her hand. “But we’re not alone anymore. The High Elder supports us. The moderate Deep Runners are curious. Your brother’s vouching for us with the Storm Eagles. We have allies. We have proof that integration works. We have—”
“Each other,” she finishes.
“Yes, we have each other,” I agree.
Through the bond, I feel everything she’s feeling. The exhaustion from six months of constant negotiation and symbol-duty. The excitement about the pregnancy. The fear of what comes next. The deep, bone-settled love that makes everything else manageable.
And I send back everything I’m feeling. The pride in what we’ve accomplished. The joy at impending fatherhood. The determination to keep building this impossible future. The absolute certainty that as long as she’s beside me, I can face anything.