Marin's hands shook as the shadowy figures lunged again. Her pulse thundered, a mix of fear and something else—a thrill she couldn't name. Averic's presence was like a magnet, guiding her every movement, the tether between them pulling tighter with each heartbeat.
"Focus on the rhythm," he murmured, stepping close enough that she could feel his cold breath on her neck. "Your heartbeat… your fear… channel it."
Marin hesitated, then let herself feel everything—the fear, the adrenaline, the pull of him. When the first shadow attacked, she moved instinctively, sidestepping and guiding it with an unseen force. It stumbled and recoiled, giving her enough space to strike another.
Averic watched her with an intensity that made her stomach twist. "Good. Again," he said softly. His hands brushed hers as he corrected her stance, sending sparks of something dangerous through her veins.
Her chest ached with the connection—the tether that bound them. The shadows around her faltered, sensing the pull, and for the first time, she realized she could control more than she thought. The thrill of danger mixed with the closeness of Averic, and her mind spun with confusion… and desire.