Author's POV
The Warden's eyes gleamed with dark triumph. "You would sacrifice yourself for him?"
Valerie didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Knox stirred against the chains, his voice a ruined rasp. "No! Valerie, don't!" He pulled against the silver, his body convulsing with the effort. The shard pulsed darkly against his chest, black veins spreading across his skin like poison. "I won't let you...I won't..."
But he was too weak. The shard had drained him, consumed him from the inside out. He could barely lift his head, let alone break free. His eyes met Valerie's, desperate and pleading, but she didn't look away.
The Warden smiled, a cold, predatory expression that didn't reach his eyes. "Such devotion. It's almost touching." He stepped toward the altar, his robes trailing across the stone floo
