Relief surged through Elian the moment he saw his mother. It had only been a year, but it felt like a lifetime.
In a flash, it all came back—
The tunnel. Bianca. His first battle. The monsters. The humans. What it cost him.
He'd faced more than most would in a lifetime—and somehow survived. This year nearly broke him. But despite everything—it didn't.
He'd known suffering, but he'd also known bliss.
He squeezed Bianca's hand without thinking. Just knowing that she was by his side anchored him to reality. Despite no longer being human. Even though he had holes in his memory. Bianca was proof that he was still Elian Reed. And that he still deserved to live.
Susan Reed quickly ran toward Elian. She threw her arms around him and wrapped him in a tight embrace. "Elian. Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Her voice was nostalgic and comforting. It reminded him that in this space, he didn't need to be strong. That he didn't have to act. Elian could just be himself.
