I almost expect his touch to pass through me—but when his hand brushes my face, I feel him. I can sense his skin against mine.

He feels me too, and jerks his hand back in surprise. His eyes dart abruptly to mine.

I didn’t know we could do that, he whispers.

He’s scarcely uttered his words before I lean forward and kiss him.

I have wondered about what it might be like to kiss him since that day in the bathhouse. It’s hard to imagine that we would embrace in our dream, through our bond—but I startle just the same. His lips are full and warm, his body yearning toward mine. He’s kissing me back before I can comprehend what I’m doing. I wrap my arms around his neck—can I do this? He loops his arms around my waist—can he do this?

Talin, he whispers, my name hoarse on his tongue. Moments from our past flash through me—the night after our first battle together, when he’d touched my hand and begged feverishly for me to stay at his side; the way we’d sat side by side at my mother’s table, enjoying the quiet of each other’s company; the last time I’d seen him before Mara fell. Then I think of today, of sensing him out there in the audience while I hovered over Adena, trying to decide between killing my friend and sparing my mother any more pain.

The sun-soaked trees and the street of my childhood waver around us, my peace threatening to topple. Will Constantine find a way to dig into my mind and unearth everything? Will I accidentally utter something that gives Red away, as I did outside Newage? If I did, would I ever be able to forgive myself? Could I ever undo the harm that would cause?

I could be the weak link again.

This is the thought that finally forces me to tear away from Red. My arms leave him, my body draws back from his. The air between us cools. He opens his eyes and stares at me as we both breathe heavily, dizzy with the presence of each other.

We’re going to free you, he whispers to me. And we’re going to free the others. I swear it.

I shake my head. Save yourself and save Jeran. Get him away from here.

He narrows his eyes at me. You can’t be willing to sacrifice yourself for the others and then tell us to save ourselves.

Everything in me wants to tell him about Raina, that he and Jeran aren’t operating alone out there, that there are so many other forces at work in this city. But I find myself holding back, afraid. My hands chained once again by fear.

Yes I can, I reply. Because this is no way for us to keep meeting. I’m sorry, Red.

We can find a way to work together, he starts to say.

No, we can’t! The peace in me trembles, and with a great effort, I pull the world around us back together. The wind makes the leaves flutter in the trees. A cloud covers the sun overhead.