“I’m fine,” she whispered as she stepped forward, the barrier dissolving in her wake. When she fell into Heiko’s arms, he held her tightly, his heart thundering against hers.
--
The journey back to Nightshade Castle was meant to be quiet — a time for River and Heiko to recover from the ordeal in the Southern Mountains. The amulet, now warm against her skin, pulsed faintly with every heartbeat, like a living thing breathing in rhythm with her soul. But as the towers of the castle came into view, the illusion of calm shattered.
A desperate, choked voice filled River’s head through the mind link.
“River… Heiko… hurry! It’s your father — the king! He’s getting worse… no healer can help him — no potion works anymore. Please, come fast!”
It was Queen Lana.
Heiko’s body went rigid, as his w
