Eren had been acting oddly since he recovered from his fever, frequently roaming the forest alone at night and visiting the town's library where he never stepped foot into before. He turned down her invitations to hang out together, but Mikasa didn't think it too seriously and contributed that to him still feeling a bit exhausted from his illness.

What was even stranger, in her opinion, was that the Yeagers closed their door from visitors. Carla didn't go to the market anymore and Grisha retired from his position as the royal scholar. The townsfolks whispered, saying that an experiment gone wrong had Grisha fired from the palace and now they must atone for their crimes. But what crimes? Mikasa thought. She didn't care if they were banished or disgraced. She just wanted things to go back to how it was before.

She didn't realize it yet, but that day was the beginning of the end for all of them. The first letter after a period turned semicolon, because the story continued.

She woke up as usual covered with her pile of plushies. She'd been making them quite a lot these days, the last being the Little Eren plushie she gave to its namesake after he recuperated. Levi was already awake and grunted his greeting at her. Their parents were in the kitchen, her mother muttering something suspicious about a certain birthday cake recipe. Mikasa pretended not to hear.

"You're going to the Yeagers again?"

"Nope. They don't want any visitors lately."

Levi raised an eyebrow at her.

Mikasa huffed, "Stop being suspicious of everything. You didn't have any proof about Dr. Grisha and the serum. You can't stop me from playing with Eren."

"No proof doesn't mean it's not true. And isn't Eren the one who doesn't want to play with you lately?"

"Why you—"

"Kids, stop fighting!" Their father shouted from the kitchen.

"I'm not a kid anymore."

"I know, and that's why you shouldn't bother your little sister."

Mikasa stuck out her tongue at him. He sighed.

"Fine, fine, run along brat."


She found Eren laying on his back, elbows propped up, under the shade of their oak tree.

"Eren?"

The wind shifted with him. "Mika. Sorry I haven't been around to hang out," he said and gestured for her to sit next to him.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," she shrugged. "I know your family's been a little busy. Is everything fine, Eren?"

"Yeah, everything's good. Perfect, actually."

"Really?"

"How are you? How's Levi? Still kicking some cadets' ass?"

"He mentioned about going to be stationed in East Marley. Mother is sick with worry. I know they're trying to act tough in front of him, but I know if given the chance, Mother and Father will surely complain directly to Grandfather about stationing Levi somewhere safer."

"But isn't your grandfather—"

"Yeah. He's a big believer of the Ackerman code of duty and whatever it is. Levi's the strongest of our family. I know Grandfather would want his grandson to serve with honor right in the frontline of the war."

Eren sighed. "It's not fair. Your family has always served the military for centuries. It's like you don't get any choice in that matter."

"Well, at least I can choose where I want to serve. I'm planning on the Royal Guards, not too dangerous or boring, so I guess it's a good choice."

"Still, Mika, just because of your bloodline, your future has already been dictated for you. It's like… It's like you're living as—Never mind."

Mikasa tucked her knees to her chest. "As long as there is war, we have to keep protecting the people. I'm not complaining. If I can protect you and Armin and the others with this bloodline, this power… then I'm happy."

"You shouldn't be going to war in the first place. Paradis is strong. If only the government does something about this whole mess instead of sitting on their shitty chairs doing nothing," he scowled.

"What can they do? We don't have enough power or resource to attack other countries. We can only fend off the enemies long enough to hold our borders."

"But what if we do? Have that sort of power that can defeat all enemies once and for all?"

"Huh?"

Eren gripped her forearms. "Mikasa, what if I can change the world? I will make sure our people are safe and you never have to go to war. You'll be safe here. I can protect you."

His eyes glowed in golden hues. The shadow of the Walls loomed darker over them.

"If I do that… When I do that, will you wait for me? Tell me, Mikasa, will you believe in me?"

She stiffened. For the first time, Mikasa felt fear as she watched her beloved friend grinned wildly. She feared for him, of him.

"I don't understand. Eren, what are you saying?"

Eren's gaze softened, and he squeezed her trembling body in his arms.

"You don't have to understand now, Mika," he whispered. "Tomorrow's your twelfth birthday, right? Can you meet me here after midnight?"

"I don't think I'll be allowed to get out that late. What is it, Eren?"

"I have something to show you."

"Like a birthday gift?"

He stroked her hair gently, "Something like that. Will you make time for me?"

To this day, Mikasa would regret accepting his request. If only did she know. But it was losses and regrets that rearranged the world, she later realized, the world a large betting table. A simple deviation of a choice, of a grief that followed, of a pain that transported an entire universe—nothing seemed to change, but time was already conspiring from the second Mikasa nodded her head.

"Sure," she said. "Of course," she emphasized.

"I prepare something special for you."

"For me?"

"For you. Only you."


Eren and Mikasa had a pattern. They came to each other's lives, saves them when they needed help the most, but left, always, as if staying were an illusionary resemblance for hope. Both had not wanted to leave, but saviors, too high on their thrones, weren't supposed to stay back with the people they fought for. There was always a price to pay and they weren't really that generous to begin with. Only those with nothing to lose could be that benevolent, and Eren and Mikasa had everything to lose. The cycles kept on repeating, months after months, empty beds upon empty beds, and neither knew how to stop it.

After last night, he had taken her again twice before finally letting her sleep. Mikasa couldn't feel her legs, only a wet sticky feeling between her thighs that she'd been dying to clean, but Eren hadn't let her get up from their bed. His arms caged her to his chest, his steady heartbeat a flutter of wings on her back.

It was usual for soldiers to wake up early. From their room at the farthest corner of the corridor, Mikasa could hear the commotion in the dining area and smell the hearty whiff of a stew. Thick walls, he had assured her then, what a liar. She would strangle him if the soldiers gave her dirty looks later. Waiting for Eren to wake up, in the silence of a slow morning, her thoughts wandered.

She thought of Sasha, her anchor, and prayed her best friend didn't cast her away in disgust for what she had done.

She thought of the girls at the orphanage, her little angels, and wondered if they would still accept her for dirtying herself with a devil.

She thought of Louise and her bell laughter that rang throughout the halls of their house and now here.

She thought of Armin, and Annie his lover, and the other who shared the same burden as Eren.

She thought of Levi, the man she respected more than anyone, and her parents, and questioned if the real Mikasa had died when they died and what was left of her was this broken frame with no picture to hold.

She thought of Historia, the queen with thrones on her head, a gentle soul battling a losing war, protected by the very warrior who now betrayed her.

She thought of Eren, who used to like apples, and doubted that he still liked them because if he could still like something as simple as apples then he could still like people and not killed them, because people were worth more than apples, weren't they.

She thought of herself, and accepted the fact that she couldn't forgive herself ever after this, because this was the price she had to pay.

"What are you thinking about?" Eren stirred, nuzzling his head on the crux of her neck, lips parting to lick the marks he left on her skin.

Some of them stung. Mikasa ignored it. "Nothing," she said.

"Are you in pain?"

"A little." She frowned at his smirk. "What?"

"Nothing," he hummed, peppering her face with little kisses. "I've dreamed about this for years. It felt unreal now that I've had you. You far exceeded the perfection my mind had envisioned. Everything about you is perfect."

Spending time in a foreign place had completely changed him into a romantic fool, she mused. Mikasa cupped her traitorous blushing cheeks. Eren laughed, voice rough with sleep, and turned her around to face him. He placed his palms on hers and pinched her cheek playfully.

"Stop being so cute," he said.

"Then stop being so sappy. You used to mock me for that. Hypocrite."

"I don't care."

Eren drew her closer to him and slipped his hand under her shirt. He squeezed a breast with one hand, the other trailing down her thigh to touch her uncovered womanhood.

Mikasa bit her lip and slapped his wandering hands away.

"Again?" He pouted. "Please? I'll be gentle this time."

"No. I'm exhausted. And I need to go home soon. Sasha will be worried."

"Home? I thought—"

"Eren, don't make this difficult—"

"I've finally returned home for good, for you, and now you're leaving me so soon? Just after one night?"

"It's not fair for you to say that. You'd always left me before. This is… this doesn't compare. I need to go back and be with Sasha and Historia and the girls. You know that."

Eren sighed and let out a bitter chuckle. "I do. Doesn't make it any less painful. I promise you, Mika, that I will never ever touch your family, even Historia. I will send a team of my elite soldiers to guard the orphanage from far. I can control my men, but not the citizens who choose to side with us. All they want is violence."

"Don't, Eren. It will raise suspicions. The Military Police… they knew about us."

"They can go fuck themselves. Riots are bound to happen. I want you to bring the girls here for protection. I can look out after you better here."

Mikasa shook her head. "Some are still too young. They'll be fussy and uncomfortable here. It's okay, Eren. I'm strong and I can protect them."

"And who's going to protect you?"

"I won't be needing a protection if you hadn't brought war here," she whispered. "Eren, isn't it enough to destroy your enemies outside? We're no longer threatened. Why do you need to go as far as attacking the Capital?"

"To make them pay," he growled. "Until it ends, and truly ends, I will keep on moving forward. You protect what's yours, and I protect what's mine."

Eren disturbed her train of thoughts then, flipping her to her back and kissing her roughly. He thrust his tongue deep into her vulnerable mouth, demanding her to comply as he suckled her swollen lower lip.

"You. For you, Mikasa. Only you," his words echoed back to years ago, to the day before he forcefully claimed her in their unbreakable bond.

Mikasa could only whimper as Eren ripped apart her shirt, moaning and tilting her head back in submission, heart beating erratically. When Eren slid his hard erection between the wetness of her core, she arched under him, taking pleasure in his aggression despite herself. He claimed her once, and he would claim her again, eternally, as she was his, and he was hers.


"You can't escape him forever," Sasha said to her, both lying under the same thick wool blanket to ward off the frosty night.

"I can if I try hard enough."

"He won't stop. He kept coming here once every few months and he's making a bigger commotion than before to get your attention. Sooner or later, if you ignore him still, people will know about you and him. You don't want that, do you?"

"They'll kill me if they know about my relationship with him."

"No, you'll suffer worse, Mika. They'll take you hostage, torture you, just to get to him. Do you think Eren care for you enough to surrender that easily? Even if he does, they will still kill you anyway."

"I know, believe me I know, but I hate him. I don't want to see or talk to him ever again. He left me, Sasha. He took my rights from me and just left like I was nothing."

Sasha grabbed her hand. "You're not nothing to him, Mika. I hate him too, what he does is wrong, but I know he cares for you. You need to talk to him. Maybe… maybe he will listen to you and stop."

"I can't change people. Especially him."

"I know. Just talk to him and make him stop coming here. I don't want you to be in danger. I'm scared for you."

Mikasa hugged her best friend. "I'm sorry, Sasha. And thank you."


They were sixteen. A year before adulthood, a year before the universe obliged them to carry their burdens themselves. But for Mikasa and Eren, they had already done since years ago. Maturing without aging, living lives that weren't their own.

He was a man now, no longer the boy who collapsed after just one fight with Levi, no longer the boy who left pie crumbs on her hair, no longer the boy who laughed at her attempts of jokes, no longer Eren, the boy she knew, no longer hers. Metaphorically, of course, for the dull throb in the back of her mind a literal reminder of their affinity.

She watched him while he was busy carving a wooden toy for the girls. Eren had always been handsome, she supposed. Tanned skin, disheveled brown locks, bright jade eyes—a model picture for a perfect man, not a leader of an illegal organization with an ancient power flowing in his veins. But Mikasa's own veins carried the bloodline of warriors, of killers, of monsters in the shape of humans, so they must be a match made in hell.

He handed her the toy, a small horse with wings like the one in Armin's book. "What do you think?"

"A Pegasus?"

"Yeah. Armin told me about it."

"It's pretty. The wings are a little bit lopsided, but not too noticeable."

Eren laughed and pulled her closer to sit between his legs. He trotted the horse on her arm. "Always so perfectionist."

He was getting bolder with each year that passed too. Just yesterday Sasha found him cuddling her in her bed. She scolded him for that, but Eren only chuckled and held her tighter. No rumours could ever shake him. He didn't care, but she did.

People started to notice too. First it was the local boys. One day they catcalled her to get her attention, the next day they were found with black eyes and split lips. The bride of a monster, they mocked her, until they found out that the label was true. The girls were next, with mouths sharp and ugly, and the pointing and shoving followed after. Mikasa had lost count of how many times she picked up her tattered books and muddied school bag from the river. Nobody befriended her. Then, everyone started openly hating on her when she was seen with Eren one day. They knew Eren, who he was and what he did, but they were all cowards for only hurting her instead of him. Fear. They feared him. They feared her mysterious clan. And it was so much easier to turn against them rather than confronting their fears. Because fear wasn't real, but people were.

Mikasa felt him kissed her temple softly. He had done that quite often these days.

"Armin missed you. He wanted to come with me to see you."

"Then why didn't he?"

"Annie's ill. Been so for a month. We don't know what's wrong with her and we can't find a cure. Armin's mad with worry."

She turned to face him, face concerned, "Annie? That's strange. She's always been the toughest of all of you. I thought that even sicknesses will not crumble her."

"I think it's the constant travelling. And shifting. And fighting. That girl doesn't know how to stop."

"Just like someone I know."

"Me?"

She gripped his hand. "You told me your power had an expiration date. When is it, Eren? Is it the same with what's happening to Annie?"

"No. Don't say that. I will live on, Mika. Annie will heal."

"My father once said that those gifted with power have to account for it. Your power, my bloodline, it takes more than it gives. Eren, please, please stop. I buried my parents. I don't want to bury you too."

His touches lingered on her. "You won't have to. I won't die and leave you alone."

Mikasa was tired, and she stared back at him with eyes flooded with tears, because there it was, another promise he made, unfulfilled.


There was Sasha in the dining area.

Sasha, with her messy ponytail and bunny teeth, chomping down on a warm loaf of bread. Sasha, who was definitely not supposed to be here, in the Yeagerist's lair, sitting down like she owned the place.

Eren stifled a snort when she shoved another bread into her full mouth. That broke Mikasa's stupor and she finally looked around. There were still a few soldiers sitting around, all eyes locked on the strange starving girl, too perplexed that they didn't even notice their leader and his lover entering the room.

A man walked toward her holding a tray of more bread and—oh.

It was Niccolo. That answered the question of how Sasha was allowed entry.

"Sasha?"

The brunette looked up abruptly and screamed. "Mika!"

The eyes turned to her, but Mikasa didn't notice their embarrassed looks and scrutinies over her attire—because she was wearing another one of Eren's shirt as a dress—and strode to Sasha.

"What are you doing here?"

Sasha rolled her eyes. "Why else, silly? You suddenly disappeared! I looked everywhere for you. I thought you were kidnapped and you know I don't have enough money to pay your ransom! I was just about to go to Historia until this guy right here found me."

Niccolo gave her a small wave.

"He told me you're here, so I'm here."

"Since last night?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you go to me…?"

"First, I was drenched. Second, I was hungry and Niccolo cooked me a nice bowl of meat stew so thank you for that, Niccolo, and I got to use the new hot tub. I soaked for hours. It was heavenly."

"I haven't even used that yet," Eren sulked.

Sasha ignored him. "Third, and most importantly, do you really want me to barge into you guys having sex?"

She said that loudly and without hesitation, just typical Sasha behaviour, and Mikasa wanted to die on the spot. After bringing Sasha with her to the grave, of course. Eren choked behind her. Niccolo slapped his hand over Sasha's mouth. The other soldiers gaped.

"So it was true?" someone in the corner said.

"Sasha, shut up and eat your damn bread," Eren said.

They had their breakfast after that, Mikasa doing her absolute best not to make eye contact with anyone. Eren excused himself, telling her he needed to oversee something, leaving both girls alone.

"I'm taking all the blankets," Mikasa glared at her.

"Not fair! You know I'm right. You did have sex."

"Sasha!"

"Don't be such a prude. How was it?"

"How was what?"

"You and your thick skull. Is it as good as I told you?"

"You barely told me anything when I asked you. You just said you could eat a whole cow after doing it with Niccolo."

"Who knows hormones can trigger appetite."

"Everything you do trigger your appetite."

Sasha laughed. "Amen to that."

"Sasha," Mikasa started, eyes cast down. "Are you not angry with me? Disgusted? You don't have to lie."

Her friend smiled, sighed, and grabbed her hand on the table. "Why would I? I, too, have been intimate with the enemy if you want to call them that way. I hate what Niccolo did, hate what he supported, but I understand. He lost his family once and now he had another one. Why would I ever be angry with him for that?"

"It's wrong. We're wrong."

"We are. We should be killed for treason. Dangers followed wherever we go."

"And yet—"

"And yet while there is everything wrong with being close to them, there is nothing wrong with being in love. We don't have to agree with them and we can still fight them. I am still loyal to our country, as you are too, but we have been denied so much in our lives. Parents, friends, dreams, hopes. We shouldn't deny our feelings too."

It felt so liberating hearing someone else said the truth out loud. Mikasa wiped the corners of her eyes and stood up. "Okay. Thank you. Come on, the sky is darkening again, let's go before it starts to rain."


Sasha went to Niccolo to say goodbye. Their love story was a funny and unexpected one, but that was a story for another day. Mikasa considered on finding Eren, to say goodbye or good luck, she didn't know anymore. She finally decided not to. It was better this way. They were already familiar with silent farewells.

Mikasa was just about to go to Sasha because the girl was taking too long when she realized she left her scarf in Eren's room. She didn't want to enter the base again, anxious of the stares and whispers, but she couldn't really leave the most valuable thing she had behind.

She even jogged to the room, wincing with every step because her legs were killing her, until she stopped in front of a slightly opened door. Her parents would scold her for eavesdropping, but they were dead, and Mikasa didn't care because she heard her name being mentioned by whoever was inside.

"I want one squad to guard the orphanage. Don't let Mikasa know."

Mikasa frowned. He was always so stubborn.

"Yes, sir. And what about yourself?"

"This HQ is too close with people. We will move to our base in Ashopp. Prepare your men."

Mikasa heard something like a foot stomping, the soldier saluting, and went away quickly before she was discovered.

Ashopp. Everyone thought it was a ghost town, destroyed after an earthquake decades ago. Turned out it wasn't. Was that where Eren had been hiding all this time?


Mikasa,

I am going home. Indefinitely. I heard about the situation. Don't leave the orphanage for the time being. I will come find you. I have news you must listen.

See you soon,

Your brother, Levi A.


Mikasa crashed into her brother's frame, muffling her soft sobs in his coat, and hitting him in the back.

Levi sighed and rubbed his sister's back. "Are you even strong enough to commit bodily harm to me? You haven't been neglecting your training, have you?"

"Shut up. You told me you'll visit every year. And that's a sorry excuse of a letter, you know. Are you running out of ink? You should have told me more!"

Levi wiped her runny nose with his handkerchief and threw the cloth away. "Brat. You know I'm not privileged enough to ask for leaves. They didn't want their strongest soldier to run away."

"You may be the strongest, but you're also still the stupidest."

"Is that even a word?"

"Levi! Where are you going to stay?"

"Erwin's. Come on, he wants to see you."

"Really?" Despite his relationship with her brother, Mikasa hadn't met the famous Erwin Smith once. Levi left for the army before he could introduce them.

"Yes. And you'll help me unpack. And clean. I could use an extra servant."

Mikasa smacked him again.


Erwin Smith sat in front of her, imposing and intimidating. But Levi once told her that it wasn't the other person who was intimidating, but the victim who was intimidated. So Mikasa straightened her back and sipped her tea quietly, easing the tension inside.

"You look exactly like your brother," Erwin smiled.

"Is that a compliment?"

Levi rolled his eyes and flicked her forehead.

"Yes, it is," Eren laughed, his voice booming inside the small apartment. "Your family has always been blessed with superiority. You're one of the last few Ackerman women. Are you planning on a marriage soon?"

Mikasa and Levi shared a look.

"No," Mikasa finally said.

"Not even with Eren Yeager?"

Her tea spilled.

Levi glared at Erwin. "Stop it."

"No, Levi, we've been dancing around this topic for years. War is coming. Mikasa, you do realize you are bonded, chained even, to the man who is going to annihilate us?"

Mikasa clenched her fist, mind blazing with fury because how dare this man came to her life and— "Are you threatening me, Erwin?"

"I do not have threats for you, Mikasa. Only a proposition."

"I am not chained to Eren. Yes, I am bonded with him, but I have no business with him. If you ask me for information, I have none."

"You're his only weakness. You should know that. No business with him, you said? He still visited you every year and you were just seen leaving his headquarters this morning."

"Are you spying on me?" she hissed.

"We're not going to use my sister as bait," Levi growled through his gritted teeth.

"We? Levi, who's we?"

Levi faced her, expression unreadable, and it unhinged her because she was always good at reading him. "Erwin is the leader of the underground rebellion, supported by the Crown."

"What?"

"And I am part of it too, Mikasa."

"What?" It was barely a whisper now.

"Mikasa, this can no longer go on. The Yeagerist and those who side with them, they want absolute power. And our absolute power lies on the people which means they will fight us to get that."

"Leaders come and go. Empires rise and fall. It doesn't matter to me, Levi. I will not be involved in whatever you are planning. I'm sick of politics and wars. All I want is to protect my loved ones. My family and friends."

"Is Eren Yeager one of your loved ones?" Erwin asked.

"It still doesn't matter. Even if I help you, I can't hurt him. Even if I wanted to, I can't. You both understand that. The bond stops it."

"Is the bond the reason you are passively accepting his crimes, Mikasa?"

She didn't answer. No, she refused to.

"I get it, okay," Levi said. "Eren is my friend too, that little brat, and you don't want to endanger him. I get it. When he claimed you years ago, did he say something? How he managed to do that?"

"I told you I don't remember anything from that incident. I fainted, woke up in my room, and the next thing I knew Eren was gone."

Levi eyed her and she looked away.

"We are wasting time. Mikasa, you must help us capture him. We're not going to kill him. We'll only extract his power."

"Erwin, your words fell empty on my ears. I will not be involved."

"Why? You told your brother you hate him too. Don't you want all of this to stop? Your family and friends are in danger. Do you honestly believe his promise to protect you? He's a monster, he killed millions, and for what? For you? Because he loves you? Do you believe that?"

The cup she threw shattered on the wall next to Erwin. One chip grazed at his ear, drawing blood. Levi tensed beside her.

All Mikasa could do was sat and cried.


Mikasa was lying on her side, tucking herself in a ball in the far side of the bed, when Levi entered and plopped next to her. She could see him out of the corner of her eye and ignored him.

Levi brushed her hair away. "Your hair is now the length Mother used to wear," he said.

Gently, with trained hands, he applied some ointment on her neck, on the bruises and wounds Eren left, exhaling, "That boy never knew how to hold back. He'd always been possessive in marking you. I wasn't even surprised when you came home that day, you know? Forced or not, it was clear that Eren is your bonded."

After several long minutes of silence, Levi said again, "I'm sorry, Mika. I didn't bring you here for this whole mess."

"You're planning for it. The timing doesn't matter," she whispered to her pillow.

"No. Believe me. I know Erwin is thinking about it but I never wanted to force you to make that kind of decision."

"You told me I have so much love to give. But why do I feel my heart is so empty?"

Her quiet tears turned into heart-wrenching sobs. Her body shook, even down to the tips of her fingers, and felt something was trying to pull her heart out of her ribcage. Pull it, it's useless anyway, she thought. Mikasa allowed Levi to wrap his arms around her, giving her the comfort only someone who had also lost so many loved ones could do.

"I like to dream. I dreamt of a world where Mother and Father are still alive and you don't have to risk your life. A world where Eren hadn't become who he is right now. A world where everything is okay and I can love freely."

A world where they wouldn't use her to kill him, she left the unspoken hanging in the air.

"I know," he replied, "I dreamt too."

"Are all dreams just illusions, Levi? Then if I dream I'm dead, will it not come true too?"

"No. Some dreams do come true. I dreamt that you're okay, and you are."

"Do you think Eren dreams too?"

"I suppose. If I were to guess what he dreams about, I think it is him living a quiet and peaceful life with you. He's a victim too. Just like the rest of us. Some people are born to do things outside their control. The gods are too cowardly to do it themselves."

Mikasa gripped his shirt like she used to do as a toddler. "I think he's tired."

"Aren't we all?"

They let silence carried their conversation then. He was still holding her, and she was still depending on him. Solitude. In this always screaming world, they were content enough to still be able to hear each other's heartbeats. Alive.

Then, when it came for him to leave, to make a decision, to make their decision, Levi said:

"You are our only chance," quietly, not looking at her eyes, because he knew he didn't have any other choice but to subject his only family to this. "You need to tell us anything you know."

"Ashopp," her voice didn't sound like her own. "They are moving to Ashopp."

Levi nodded. "Okay."

Later, that night, she cried again as the reality of it all sunk in. She didn't betray anyone, she knew this, but fuck did it hurt. She didn't hold any allegiance to Eren, only to herself, and now she brought herself into this chaos. She hated him, she feared him, she loved him.

They were going to kill him and his blood would be on her hands. She doubted their bond was strong enough to free her from this guilt.