It began without warning.
Not the slow tightening she had come to expect when he was near.
Not the low, persistent pull that had haunted her since the vote.
But something sudden—
Violent.
Ouch—
Elara's breath left her in a sharp gasp as the sensation struck like a physical blow just beneath her ribs.
Her hand flew to her chest.
Because this was not longing.
This was not instinct.
This—
Was anger.
Not hers.
His.
"What the hell—"
The words barely made it past her teeth before another wave followed.
Hotter.
Sharper.
Dragging across nerve and bone like something alive inside her had just—
Snapped.
Her knees buckled.
The marble floor met her hard enough to jar her vision.
Holy shit.
Because the bond was not comfort tonight.
It was conduit.
Downstairs—
Alessandro did not remember reaching the stairwell.
Only that Luca had said something—
And then the elders had said something else—
