Chapter 78

Raeve and Kaan share an intimate encounter in which they reconcile emotionally and physically. During their intimacy, Kaan extracts a binding agreement from Raeve: she will not erase him from her life or run away, and she must remain open to connections with others who need her, particularly someone Raeve cares for deeply.

The chapter opens with Raeve and Kaan in bed together, their physical connection deepening as Raeve recalls vivid shared memories of passion between them. Their encounter grows increasingly intimate, with Kaan taking control and shifting from playful tenderness to serious intensity. He demands that Raeve stop trying to erase him from her existence, referencing the hundred phases he spent devastated by her presumed death. When Raeve attempts to resist, Kaan uses their physical connection to bind her to an agreement: she must yield to him and accept his deal. The physical climax of their encounter coincides with an emotional revelation. Kaan tells Raeve that this situation extends beyond their relationship and that she must soften her guarded heart, as someone else depends on her in a way that could transform their life. He references a small creature named Nee—a parchment lark that Raeve believed came to her by accident—suggesting it was actually placed with her deliberately. Kaan concludes by making clear that Raeve has agreed not to run away from him or from her responsibilities to others, sealing this promise with a tender kiss despite the harsh truth of his words.