Third POV
The fracture did not explode.
It *wept*.
A sound like glass crying echoed across the dead zone as thin fissures spiderwebbed through the Heart of the Fallen Guardian. Light leaked from the cracks in trembling strands, no longer devoured by shadow but resisting it, pulsing with confused, wounded awareness.
Gabriella staggered, hands still outstretched, fingers trembling inches from the breaking core. Every instinct screamed for her to pull back. Every bond inside her burned hot with warning.
But the heart did not recoil from her.
It leaned toward her.
The Devourer froze.
For the first time since he had revealed his true form, fear flickered nakedly across his face.
“No,” he breathed. “You cannot take that from me.”
Gabriella’s voice shook, but it did not break. “I’m not
