“That’s enough,” I said, my tone firmer now.

Misty glanced at me briefly, her expression uncertain, and I could feel the storm still churning in the air around us, the tension palpable.

I turned back to Misty, stepping closer and lowering my voice. “It’s okay,” I said gently. “She’s just... protective.”

Misty’s gaze flicked to mine, and for the first time, I saw something like vulnerability in her eyes. She raised a hand hesitantly, as if to apologize again, but then dropped it, unsure.

“It’s not your fault,” I said, smiling faintly. “Really. I’m okay now.”

Rio let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, great. Just comfort her, why don’t you?”

I turned to her, surprised by the sharpness in her tone. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Her blue eyes blazed, her voice cutting. “You’re acting like she’s some poor, misunderstood victim. She’s dangerous, Ben. You know that.”

“Yeah, well, so are you,” I said without thinking.

Rio flinched, and I immediately regretted the words.

“Rio,” I said quickly, stepping toward her. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Whatever,” she muttered, looking away.

Her eyes widened in shock as I pulled her into an embrace.

“I said I was sorry, and I meant it,” I told her.

Misty’s gaze lingered on Rio and I, her expression changing as if she were piecing something together. Her gray eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, I saw understanding in them—along with something else.

Jealousy.

The realization seemed to hit her all at once, and the storm around us faltered. The swirling clouds stilled, the wind dying down to a soft breeze.

I looked up, surprised. “The storm... stopped.”

Misty blinked, her gaze dropping to the deck as if she were embarrassed.

Rio glanced around, her expression shifting from anger to confusion as she pulled away. “What just happened?”

I turned to Misty, watching as she stood quietly, her hands fidgeting nervously. “I think…” I said softly. “I think she’s anchored.”

She met my gaze briefly, then turned and walked to the edge of the deck.

The storm had long since dissipated by the time Vale joined us on the deck. She strode toward us with her usual air of authority, her sharp gray eyes scanning the group before settling on Misty, who still stood at the edge of the deck, her white hair fluttering softly in the breeze.

Misty turned to face her, her expression neutral but her shoulders tense.

Vale stepped closer, her gaze keen. “Misty,” she said, her voice softening slightly, “I need you to help me understand. What were you feeling right before the storm stopped?”

Misty tilted her head slightly, her gray eyes flicking toward me and then to Rio, who was standing a few feet away with her arms crossed. For a moment, she didn’t move, her hands fidgeting at her sides as if she were searching for the right way to respond.

“It’s okay,” Vale said gently. “Take your time.”

Misty hesitated, then raised her hands, gesturing haltingly. Her fingers moved in vague shapes, her motions uncertain but deliberate.

“What’s she saying?” Rio asked, her tone still sharp but less biting than before.

“I think...” I began, watching Misty’s movements closely. “I think she’s saying she felt jealous. Of you.”

Rio’s eyes widened slightly. “Jealous? Of me?”

Misty nodded, her movements growing more confident now. She gestured again, this time glancing at me briefly before looking away.

“She’s saying,” I said slowly, “that you made her realize she cared about me.”

Rio’s eyebrows shot up, and she opened her mouth to say something, but Vale held up a hand to stop her.

“Go on,” Vale said, her gaze fixed on Misty.

Misty gestured again, this time with more certainty. She pointed to her chest, then to me, and then spread her hands wide, as if to indicate the storm clouds that had once surrounded us.

“She’s saying that when she realized it,” I said, piecing it together, “the storm just... stopped.”

Vale nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. “Interesting,” she said quietly, her gaze flicking to Misty and then to me.

“Interesting?” Rio repeated, her voice sharp again. “That’s all you’ve got? She just admitted she—”

“Rio,” I said, cutting her off gently.

She scowled but didn’t argue.

“So,” Vale continued, “the storm stopped when you felt... connected? Fondness?”

Misty nodded.

Vale’s lips pressed into a thin line, her mind clearly racing. She stepped back, folding her arms as she addressed the group. “This is significant,” she said. “We’ve now had, two, no three if you count Mia, entities stabilize after forming a bond with something of this world.”

“What are you saying?” I asked.

“I’m saying,” Vale said, her voice steady, “that this is exactly the kind of evidence I was looking for from this test.”

Rio frowned, her arms still crossed. “So you want Ben to try to bond with every entity we come across now?”

“Not just Ben,” Vale said, glancing at Misty again. “The principle could apply to anyone, in theory.”

Rio let out a sigh of relief.