Rowan’s heartbeat stuttered beneath her hand.
Once.
Twice.
The crimson threads tightened like living veins, stretching from the wound in his side to the towering ancient entity above them.
Ivy felt every pulse through the bond.
Felt his pain.
Felt his steady trust.
Not fear.
Never fear.
The entity’s voice rolled across the shattered courtyard.
“Merge with me, Blood Queen. Rule without fracture. Or watch him fade.”
Gloria laughed weakly from the rubble.
“Every queen kneels eventually.”
Ivy did not look at her.
She was staring at Rowan.
His breathing was shallow now, but his eyes were clear.
“Don’t,” he whispered.
The word scraped from his throat.
Her chest tightened.
“You don’t get to decide that,” she said softly.
A faint smile touched his lips despite the blood.
“I tr
