Chapter 12: The Only Choice

The mental walls I had erected against the bond were a flimsy defense, like paper against a storm. I could block the conscious communication, the subtle nuances of his emotions, but I couldn't block the raw, primal essence of him. It was a constant, low-level ache in my soul, a reminder of the connection I was trying so desperately to sever. Hours bled into what felt like an eternity. The silence from his cell was absolute, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil raging within me. My anger...