This can't be it. Surely the cauldron can't let this happen. How cruel to tease them like this. Cassian had never truly believed in the strength of the mate bond, or that he'd have his own mate, until he saw her. His mate. He had dreamed of their life, planned it. The centuries they would have together. He'd only kept the mate bond a secret for a few months, a few months compared to the centuries together felt like nothing. But now those months were everything. All they had were these past few months. He had given his mate a few months to get to know him, to trust him and feel comfortable. Now she was dying in his arms. Would they ever get that house? Have those children? Would they ever have the beautiful life cassian had imagined? These months had been beautiful enough, but cassian had assumed they'd have more. Cassian is slowly bleeding out too, he's too weak to move, but he has more chance than his mate, he has illyrian healing. He can feel his mates life draining as she lies in his arms, her blood soaking into both of their clothes. I suppose cassian doesn't have a higher chance of survival, now he's met his mate he can't imagine life without her. Maybe he should tell her that they're mates. Maybe the cauldron hasn't given up on them. Maybe they'll be found.