Chapter 63

At sunset on Rashearim’s cliffs, Dianna and Samkiel rest after swimming. Samkiel reveals that Logan and Neverra plan to leave after Kaden falls, and he believes Xavier and Imogen may choose new paths too. He admits guilt over being absent and accepts that The Hand may be drifting apart.

Dianna tries to buoy him, asking about his future. He deflects, and they trade light teasing that eases the moment. When Dianna confesses she feels no remorse for violently protecting loved ones and even desires a fearsome reputation to deter threats, Samkiel answers without judgment, calling her love a rare gift and insisting he fears for her, not of her.

The conversation deepens as Samkiel names the small, intimate truths he knows about Dianna, pledging patience and constancy. They honor Gabriella’s memory while watching the sky, and Samkiel comforts Dianna’s unresolved grief, admitting he cannot hasten healing but will remain by her side.

Back at the palace, Dianna invites the exhausted Samkiel to share her bed platonically. In the bathroom, she glimpses a brief red flash in her eyes that vanishes, hinting at a returning spark of power. They settle in the dark, trading gentle banter that turns to a vulnerable request: Dianna asks him to promise to come back.

Samkiel answers with a pinky promise, and during the night they drift into an embrace. The chapter closes with renewed intimacy and hope: The Hand’s potential dissolution looms, but Dianna’s heart eases, their bond strengthens, and a subtle sign suggests her powers may be stirring.