Today, the world had seen his strength.
But she — she alone — had seen the moment when the armor cracked.
And in that quiet, vulnerable embrace, she didn’t see the Deathbringer or the Prince.
She saw Heiko.
The man.
The wolf.
The broken, healing heart.
They stayed like that for a long time. No need for conversation. Just the warmth of bodies pressed together, the sacred silence of trust, and the soft rhythm of hearts that had found their way to one another — even through war, lies, and betrayal.
The chamber was quiet. Still.
Heiko rested his head against her chest for a long time, listening to the steady beat of her heart. It grounded him, pulled him back from the edge.
When he finally found his voice, it was a fragile whisper — like something fractured but still beautiful.
He l
