When she entered, she saw him as he sat behind his desk, his elbows resting on his knees, head buried in his hands. The firelight caught the sharp lines of his face — the tension, the fury, the ache.
“Heiko…” she began, voice small.
He lifted his gaze, and the look that met hers silenced her instantly. His eyes were darker than midnight — a glint of the Deathbringer simmering beneath the surface.
“Don’t,” he said quietly, his voice low, dangerous. “Don’t say another word about that plan.”
River’s jaw tightened. “You think I want to do this? You think I enjoy the idea of putting myself in danger? I just—”
“You just what?” He rose to his full height, the chair scraping against the stone. “You want to throw yourself to them? Offer your life like a sacrifice because you can’t stand to wai
