"I have to go, Remy."

They were the words she had been dreading to hear for hours. She had had more time than she could have ever expected with him, having been lying with him in her small single bed for what seemed like forever, but still it was not enough. It would never be enough.

She looked up at him, both of them lying on their sides so they were facing each other. His breath was hot on her forehead, his hand heavy on her hip until he moved it in order to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes, soaking in her last few moments with him and trying to swallow the lump that was slowly returning to her throat.

"Can't you stay the night?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"I will stay the night if you are the one to explain to my mother and the Principle Warlock why a portal to the Mortal World was left open."

"Deal," she murmured, though she knew he was joking.

"Remy," he sighed, and she could feel the mattress beneath her move as he sat up. Her eyes fluttered open and she watched him as he pulled on his jacket with pursed lips. He looked like Maksim again, now, and for that her heart felt lighter. His fingers were no longer stained, the colour had returned to his face, and the purple crescents beneath his eyes were no longer as prominent. The only reminder of what had happened was the blisters circling her wrist, but she had made sure to cover them up with her sweater.

"Max," she mocked in response, throwing the duvet away from her body and searching for a pair of shoes. She slipped them on quickly and then wiped her eyes with a yawn. Already, she could feel the lack of warmth around her where Maksim's body had been. Even standing like this, a few inches apart, it felt as though an invisible piece of string was tugging on her chest, urging her to be closer to him.

She ignored it as she opened the door and lead him down the corridor, careful not to walk too fast. She wanted to savour every second she had left with him.

Her family were sat on the sofa when Remy reached the living room, watching Friends re-runs while Leo helped Vincent to read in the corner. Her mother raised her head with cold eyes and everyone else followed. The only one who looked happy to see her was Vincent.

He ran over to her, his book forgotten in Leo's lap, and hugged her. He still only reached her waist. She could feel Maksim's eyes burning a hole in her back as she feigned a smile and clutched him to her tightly. "Rem," Vinnie hugged her. "I thought you'd left us again."

For once, Remy was lost for words.

"We all did," Leo said, scowling first at Remy and then at Maksim behind her. "Turns out she's just too busy with her boyfriend to care about us anymore."

"Actually," Maksim intervened, stepping in front of Remy as though protecting her, "I have been meaning to apologise, especially to you, Mrs. Morgan."

"Miss," Bianca corrected as though such a thing even mattered.

Maksim nodded, shuffling awkwardly on his feet. It was the first time Remy had seen him nervous when speaking to a mortal before. "I never intended to harm your family and I would certainly never harm Remy. I cannot imagine how worried you must have been when she was gone."

"No," her mother sighed, her attention falling back on the television as though she had grown bored of the conversation, "you can't."

Remy bent down to Vincent's height, then, wishing she did not still feel the guilt from before. She knew that what she had said had hurt her mother in a way nothing else could; if it hadn't, she would be cursing Maksim and demanding he leave. The silent treatment was only given if Bianca was furious.

"Listen," she said quietly, "I have to go out for a little while, but I'll be back soon, okay?"

"And where are you going now?" Bianca questioned, pausing the television and standing up. "Or am I not allowed to know that, either?"

"I'm only dropping Max off at the bus station. I won't be long."

"Can't he find his own way to the bus station? You must have been enough times now," Mia spoke bitterly, her dark eyes narrowed.

"Look, whatever issues you have with Remy, they are misplaced." Maksim's eyes slipped over everyone in turn. Remy could see they were fascinated with him, despite their anger. They were probably wondering how someone like him wanted someone like her. "Everything that happened was my fault, not hers. She does not deserve to be punished for any of it."

"Did you tell the police that when they asked?" Bianca questioned, crossing her arms over her chest.

Remy rolled her eyes and straightened up, pulling Maksim away by his coat sleeve. "No, but I'm sure you will. Come on, Maksim."

"Remy—" Bianca began, but Remy was already out of the door. She slammed it shut quickly, not stopping until she had marched down the corridor and then the stairs, Maksim trailing behind her.

"Remy, slow down," Maksim demanded from behind her, grabbing her wrist quickly.

The air was cold when they spilled out into the twilight, the sun a pink dot that was slowly disappearing beyond the horizon. She stared at it so she wouldn't have to look at him, the pain that had been weighing down her heart returning like a ton of bricks clobbering her ribs.

"Are you alright?"

She was not sure if she wanted to laugh or cry. She chose the former, though it came out strangled and foreign. Her tone was almost accusatory when she responded with, "Are you?"

He opened his mouth and then stopped himself as though he had no answer, instead looking down to where his hand held hers. Her sleeve had risen slightly, revealing the angry mark he had left behind before.

"I could try to heal you, but I am not sure it would work. I ... I am not sure if I have magic able enough to do good anymore."

She softened when his guilt returned. He had not forgiven himself yet and it killed her. "It's really not that bad."

It was a lie; the skin was still burning, sharp stabbing pains rushing up her arm and gnawing through her bones, chafing against her sleeves. She stepped closer to him, inhaling.

"Try," she said, not for herself, but for him. Because she believed that he was capable of it and he needed to believe it too. Because she knew that he would not hurt her again. "Try to heal me."

He shook his head, his eyes darkening. "I will not risk hurting you again."

"You won't. I know you won't. Do you honestly think I'd ask otherwise? I'm not that stupid."

He raised an eyebrow. "Debatable, I think."

She dragged him away from the apartments, away from windows and prying eyes, finding shelter in a small gap between her building and the next. It was much darker here, where the light didn't reach, especially with the amount of clouds concealing the fragment of sky above them.

Pulling up her sleeve, she extended her arm, trying not to wince as the material stuck to the wound. The burn was worse than anything she'd had before. It looked the way Maksim's had looked after he had carried her out of Nil Lake, as though it was not just a burn but something toxic eating away at her skin. It made her feel sick.

Maksim eyed it reluctantly. "And what if I make it worse?"

"Then I asked for it. Besides, so what if I end up with only one hand? I've lost worse." She was only half-joking. "Look at me."

He did, his blue eyes glistening with tears. He didn't seem too amused by her humour, his expression grave.

"I know that you can. There's still light in you. I can see it—I can see it everywhere."

He looked down at the wound again, holding her arm out with one hand and raising his other palm above it. He closed his eyes, his brows furrowed in concentration. She could do nothing but watch, her heart pounding at his beauty, even now, when it was half-concealed by darkness. And then she could see the silver snaking through his veins like thousands of tiny stars, his fingertips sparking with the beginning of it. It wasn't dark, not even close. It lit up the alleyway as it poured from him and wrapped itself around her broken skin. When it dissipated, the blisters had disappeared. All that was left was a small band of red in the shape of his fingers where he had gripped her.

He seemed surprised by his own ability, stepping backwards and gaping at what he had done. Remy smiled, letting her wrist drop.

"See," she gloated. "I still have two perfectly-functioning hands. Told you it would be fine."

* * *

It was almost dark when they reached the portal, the alleyway lit by the purple and blue glow. Remy couldn't help but hate the sight of it now. She had been in this position a few too many times before and was always the one left behind when it closed.

"I have been meaning to give you something." Maksim raised his hands, pulling his green ring off his thumb. He offered it to her and she took it hesitantly.

"This is important to you."

"Exactly. It is important to me."

He gazed down at her, his eyes saying something that his mouth could not. It made her chest ache, knowing finally that everything she felt was real enough for him to do this for her.

"Thank you," she breathed, sliding the ring onto her own thumb though she knew it wouldn't fit. "I'll put it on a necklace."

Silence fell upon them and she looked into the portal, squinting at the brightness of it. "When will I see you again?"

"Well, that depends if you have any more secret meetings with my mother scheduled." He was teasing but it didn't matter; her stomach twisted with unease at the thought. She had no idea what would happen next now that she had the key again. She had no idea when she would next be in Astracia, and if she was, whether it would be for the right reasons.

Then she thought of what Hecate had said, that she could become a witch if she chose. Before she had been sure Maksim didn't want her, but everything had changed today.

"If there was a way for us to be together permanently, would you want it?"

He was taken aback by the question, the small grin wiped from his face. "There is no way, Remy. We live separate lives in separate realms ..."

"Yes, I know, but what if we didn't have to? What if we could live in the same realm? What if we could be together? Would you want it, Max?"

"Remy ..."

She took a step back then, his uncertainty causing a horrible thought to dawn on her. "You wouldn't, would you?"

"Yes, of course I would," he exhaled, pulling her close again. "I want nothing more than to take you home with me. Every night we have been apart I have wished that you were with me, arguing with my mother and falling asleep in my bed the way you did before. I just do not see the point in wishing for something that can never happen. It only makes it hurt more."

She nodded, finding relief in his answer. She wished she could tell him about Hecate, about her offer, but she knew it would only make him angry if he knew she had the key again. She let him pull her into his chest, feeling his breath rise and fall against her for a moment.

"I will see you again. I will visit. I will write to you. I will not give up on this, not again."

"Okay," she muttered, wishing that his words were enough to fill the ever-growing hole in her chest.

He pulled away and wiped a stray tear from her face with the pad of his thumb, kissing her forehead lightly. She stopped him, pulling his face down so she could press her lips against his. It didn't feel the same as it had before. Electricity still buzzed through her, but it was haunted by the knowledge that it would be over soon and he would be gone.

When it was over he pressed his head against her forehead breathlessly. "I will see you soon. I promise."

"Not soon enough." She smiled sadly as he inched closer to the portal. His expression was sad, his legs reluctant to turn away.

And then, just like that, he was gone. She waited, staring at the portal until her eyes stung. It only took minutes before it closed and she was looking at a brick wall instead, spots dancing around her vision, reminding her of the light that had been there before.

The numbness returned as quickly as it had left and she trudged home with an aching heart. The only comfort was the key hanging from her neck and even that was not enough to stop the heart-wrenching pain she felt now.

[AN: Sorry for the late update. I think I've told you guys but Britain is in the middle of a heatwave and I can barely concentrate or motivate myself when it's like this. I'm hoping updates will be on time next week though. 

Spellbound is literally 70 reads away from 25k and that's crazy! any help with that would be greatly appreciated if you fancied a cheeky re-read :) I think that's all I really have to say so thanks for reading as always and sorry again!]