Heiko cupped her face gently. “You saved him, River. No one else could’ve done that. Not even the healers.”
She leaned into his touch, her heart swelling with emotion.
After a moment, she asked quietly, “Heiko… do you think Queen Victoria knew about the amulet?”
His expression darkened. He leaned back, eyes narrowing in thought. “It’s possible. She’s too cunning for coincidences. But whether she knew exactly what it was — or just suspected you carried something of power — that’s another question.”
“So… we can’t know for sure,” River murmured.
He shook his head. “No. But we can be certain of one thing: after today’s display, we must keep this ability hidden. No one outside these walls can know what you did. Not even the Council.”
River nodded firmly. “Agreed. If word spreads… there wi
