world. A faint, spiritual resonance vibrated through the cave, a sign that

tared at Genevieve, his furious golden eyes searching for

ing his head from the floor, his

strategist, the one who weighed every possibility. An oath this binding, this absolute... it was not a move a liar

ck at Genevieve, who looked so fragile she migh

e a de

irmly pressed Gilber

o hissed, trying to shrug him off.

rmured, his voice low and for Gilberto's ears alone. "And if sh

calculation. Not trust,

you break that oath," he said, his voice a low promise of violence, "I will personal

m towards the entrance. Dalvin and Jameel followed, casting one last,

nd of their f

lding. The tension drained from her, leaving behind a bone-

ckling of the fire and the soft, terrifie

ge

s face buried in his knees, his bod

wall, her head spinning. She settled for dragging herself, step by painful step, not to

rast to the cold stone she'd been lying on. She patted

gel

en further back, pressing himself so hard against the c

ils of a snake, were wide with a desperate, pleading terr

seeing the raw fear in his eyes, Genevieve felt

ldn't f

g the throne, and made her way to him. She moved slowly, delibera

owly, carefully, lowered herself to a c

r lashes trembling. He was bracing himself for

didn'

scented with blood

oaching a frightened bird. She didn't grab. She didn't demand. She simply l

eyes flew open, his body going ra

ouldn't imagine, but it was warm. The warmth seeped th

held his hand, her thumb g

gh whisper, full of an emotion he had nev

want to look at your wounds. I swor

it was too much. The dam of his carefully constructed defen

hatt

onto her hand, and then they were a flood, a silent,