Damon’s POV
Her head turned, silver eyes meeting mine for the briefest second. And though neither of us spoke, the bond carried enough - my vow, wordless but iron.
I would stand between her and the fire. Between her and the knives. Between her and the ghosts of the kingdom that had failed before this one.
Whatever rose here, it would not fall the same way. Not while I breathed.
Ahead of us, the palace shimmered like moonlight made stone. The last wolves scattered back from the steps, bowing their heads, but not daring to follow. The great doors swung inward as if they had been waiting all along.
Rayna’s fingers slipped into mine again, steady and sure. And together, we crossed the threshold.
The air shifted as soon as we crossed the entrance.
It wasn’t the cold echo of stone that me
