~ZEPHYRUS' POV
I drove my fist into the heavy leather of the punching bag for the third hour in a row. Every strike sent a jolt of pain up my arm that I welcomed because it was the only thing that kept me from thinking.
I tried to call on the fire in my veins to burn off the restless energy, but the flames only flickered for a second before they died out.
A sharp pain sliced through my chest, making me double over to catch my breath as my core protested the strain.
I snarled and threw a final, brutal hook that finally ripped the leather open. Sand poured out onto the stone floor in a heavy stream as the bag went limp.
I stood there, staring at the mess with shaky hands. I could feel the bond strengthening and tightening until it felt like a wire wrapped around my heart.
Alaric had finally spoke with her, and the sudden depth of the connection told me that their world had just changed.
I didn't stop to clean the sand off my knuckles before I headed for the royal wing.
