Chapter 109

** Paige’s POV ** When the door closes behind them, silence falls again. It feels softer this time, less dangerous, but still heavy. Poppy looks up at me, her voice barely audible. “Paige… what’s happening to me?” I hesitate. I don’t know what to tell her that will make this any less scary for her. It’s one thing to hear about the effect of the bond, but to feel it is not something you could prepare for. I remember those first few days; my head was all over the place. “I don’t know exactly, but I do know this feeling will pass. It just takes some time. I think I cried for a few days, and I thought I was losing my mind before I stopped fighting against it.” Poppy stares at me, wide-eyed and pale, like the words aren’t quite sinking in. “You make it sound like giving up,” she whispers. “It’s not,” I say softly. “It’s letting yourself breathe. The bond doesn’t go away just because you want it to, but it is not as intense when you stop trying to tear yourself free from it.” She presses the