It starts in Regina’s vault

You shouldn’t be there—no one should—but curiosity (and maybe fate) brought you inside. Glowing vials line the shelves, swirling with colors too vivid to be natural. Some whisper, some pulse faintly, as though alive. You’re staring at one labeled “Amor Vincit Omnia” when the sound of heels clicks against the stone floor

“Touch that,” a sharp voice cuts through the air"and you won’t live long enough to regret it.”

You turn, nearly dropping the vial. Regina stands in the doorway, arms crossed, her gaze colder than the stone walls around you

“I… I was just looking,” you stammer

Her eyebrow arches“Looking? In a sorceress’s vault? How original.” She strides forward and plucks the vial from your hand with practiced elegance. But just as she does, your fingers brush hers— and the vial bursts

A swirl of shimmering mist engulfs you both, wrapping around your arms like chains before sinking into your skin. The air hums with magic, sparking against the walls. When it finally clears, you’re both gasping for breath

Regina steadies herself on a table, then snaps her head toward you “What… did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” you protest “You grabbed it!”

Her glare could cut glass“Don’t. Test. Me.” She closes her eyes, pressing her fingers to her temple, then freezes. Her jaw tightens “Oh, no.”

Your stomach drops“What? What happened?”

Regina opens her eyes, and for the first time, you see something like panic in them“That potion was never meant to be touched. It was meant to bind.”

You blink“Bind? Bind what?”

“Not what,” she says grimly “Who. Us.”

Your heart stutters“You mean—”

“Yes.” Her voice is clipped, her tone furious, but there’s a faint tremor beneath it“Until I undo this, our lives… our magic… maybe even our hearts… are tethered.”