The dual bond nearly tore me apart.

Every breath felt painful, like my chest was trying to hold two hearts instead of one. One beat was steady, grounding, wrapping around me like warmth after a long night... this was Gabriel. The other burned hot and sharp, wild and restless... this was Paxton. They didn’t blend. They collided, crashing into each other inside my veins.

I staggered when the ritual ended, the world tilting. Hands reached for me, voices shouting, but I couldn't hear any ...