She made it to her chambers. The halls were empty, quiet. No servants. No Heiko.
When she stepped inside, the door clicked shut behind her, and it felt like the room itself suddenly lost its warmth.
She stood still for a moment… then pressed her hand to her chest as if physically trying to hold herself together.
“Did I really… fall for him?” she whispered, voice trembling.
She looked down at her hand. Her skin was cool. But her heart—her heart burned.
In the solitude of that morning light, after she stood unmoved for a good period of time, River understood something terrifying: this wasn’t just the mate bond.
This was something far more dangerous.
Because the bond could be explained by nature.
But love?
Love or feelings could destroy you. And this terrified her.
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