Kairo blinked once.
Twice.
A third time.
His mind refused to process what was happening.
Maybe it was the phantoms.
Maybe it was another illusion, another trick meant to throw him off balance.
But no—
The pressure on his lips didn't vanish. The warmth stayed.
Even underwater, even bound and trembling, Eli's mouth pressed against his with a strange, stubborn clarity.
And as seconds dragged, Kairo felt it—the phantom hands pulling away.
Further. Further.
Like the kiss itself was driving them back.
His chest tightened.'
'This is real. He's actually kissing me.
Why?
The thought slammed against his skull, rattling harder than any battle cry, harder than any blade to his throat. It was shocking, unnecessary, and—
'Wait.'
Kairo was frozen. His body betrayed him.
Out of all the attacks in the world, none had ever done this to him. Nothing had ever stolen his composure, stopped his blade mid-swing, locked his lungs in his chest like this.
