Chapter 49 Aftermath

• THE QUIET THAT followed their reunion was a sacred thing, a heavy, peaceful silence broken only by their soft breathing and the gentle thrum of their newly reforged Moonbind. The dazzling light had faded, leaving the temple bathed in the gentle, crimson glow of the Blood Moon, which was now beginning its descent. The air smelled of ozone, magic, and something fresh, like rain on dry earth.
• Selene and Waldemar stood facing each other, a single, magnificent unit in the heart of the ancient temple. The raw power that flowed between them was no longer a struggle, but a perfect, powerful dance. They were exhausted, physically and emotionally drained, but it was a deep, satisfying kind of exhaustion that came after a battle won.
• Selene reached out and laid a hand on Waldemar's chest, feeling the steady, powerful rhythm of his heart beneath her palm. It was a beautiful sound, the sound of a life she had helped save. She looked into his eyes, which still held a hint of the emerald light from her own magic, and saw a love so profound it took her breath away.