Two weeks of searching had yielded absolutely nothing. Each day blended into the next as I scoured the Scottish countryside for any sign of a portal, any whisper of magic that might reunite me with my missing bonds. Hope was becoming a luxury I couldn't afford.
I sat cross-legged on the cottage floor, eyes closed in concentration as I reached out with my mind across the vast distance separating me from my bonds.
*Rhys?* I called mentally, focusing on his familiar energy. *Are you there?*
The response came immediately, warming me from within. *Always here for you, baby.*
His mental voice sounded exhausted but determined. I could almost see his tired smile, that lock of blonde hair falling over his forehead.
*Any progress on your end?* I asked, already dreading the answer.
*Slow going,* he admitted. *We've managed to stabilize two portals, but they're still not functional. Jax is... well, he's Jax but worse.*
My heart clenched. *What do you mean?*