I felt him approaching before I saw him.
The binding pulsed with awareness as he stepped off the boat and climbed the path toward the fortress entrance.
The wards recognized him, assessed him, and let him pass without challenge.
I opened the door before he reached it.
And then he was there.
Real and solid and present in ways that spiritual phone calls couldn't match.
"You're here," I said, because apparently my brain had decided eloquence was optional.
"I'm here," Azryth agreed.
I crossed the space between us in three steps and wrapped my arms around him, holding on like I'd been barely keeping it together and finally didn't have to anymore.
Azryth pulled me closer, one hand in my hair, the other at my back. The binding settled into something complete, both of us present, physical, together.
"Don't do that again," I said against his shoulder.
"Separate for days?"
"Yes."
"I don't plan to."
"Good."
Void hissed from somewhere near my feet.
