Bryce
We were never meant to survive. Claudette drained me, dragged us into the shadow realm, and left us to die. But Winnieâs magic exploded, tore everything apart, and saved us all. Now weâre stuck in a collapsing nightmare full of lost souls and shadow demons. Iâm exhausted, haunted, and the magic in this place whispers things I donât want to hear. It wants me to feed, to give in, to lose myself. But I canât. I wonât. Not while Winnieâs still breathing. Iâll destroy this realm if thatâs what it takes to bring her home.
Winnie
I thought the danger was outside the portal, but the shadow realm is worse. It devours emotions, floods me with pain, and claws at every piece of me. I should be broken. I should be dead. But Bryce wonât let me fall. Even as his darkness threatens to consume him, he holds onto me. Our bond is the only thing keeping either of us together. I donât know whatâs waiting when we escape, if we ever do, but I know thisâIâm not leaving him behind.
Xander
Everything changed when we bonded. My fire magic burned black, my soul tethered to theirs, and thereâs no going back. I feel every pulse of Bryceâs rage, every tremor of Winnieâs fear. I would die for them, but more than that, I will fight for them. This realm wants to eat us alive, but it doesnât know who itâs dealing with. Iâll scorch the shadows to ash before I let either of them be taken.