Verse 1 The bond goes quiet in the wood, Not gone — just drawn thin. That’s how I know it finally worked, Not the end — the door let in. A sentry crossed when I asked him to, He wore the skin, he held the line. The curse bent just enough to breathe, Just enough to buy me time. Pre-Chorus This wasn’t mercy. This was design. Chorus One step — that’s all this buys me now, One crack in a wall that won’t come down. A human killed a fae tonight, The rules bent wrong — but bent just right. If I don’t move, it seals again. This chance is ash if I don’t begin. Verse 2 There’s no time left to mourn his name, No space to count the cost. The curse doesn’t care who volunteered, Only what was lost. She doesn’t matter — not yet, not why, Only what she’s done. Blood crossed the line in winter snow. Now the clock has started to run. Chorus 2 She has to fear me — that’s the rule. Fear moves faster than the truth. So I’ll be the monster she expects Until she learns to choose. If hatred gets her through the wall, I’ll take the hatred. I’ll take it all. Bridge I won’t tell her he chose this end. I won’t tell her what it cost. Let her believe I’m cruel and cold. Let her think herself lost. If anger keeps her here long enough, I’ll carry what she doesn’t know. She can curse my name with every breath. She only has to go. Final Chorus One step. One chance. One human through the gate. If she lives long enough to hate me, There still might be time to change our fate. So I take the shape she’ll fear most. I let the mask decide for me. And I ask the question the night demands: “Who killed him?” (Hard cut. Silence.)
