River’s eyes dropped. The witch’s mocking words replayed in her mind like poison. The mighty little Omega, standing where she shouldn’t… how curious.
Heiko cupped her chin, forcing her eyes back up to his. His jaw was clenched, but his voice softened just for her. “Never hide something like this from me again, River. I need to know if you’re in danger. Always.”
River nodded, shame mixing with stubborn pride. “I thought I was protecting you. Protecting tonight. But I promise, no more secrets.”
Paul exhaled heavily, the weight of leadership pressing against his shoulders. His gaze drifted between them before settling on Alia. “You are right, sister. Panic serves no one. But we cannot ignore this either. We double our wards, triple our guards, and tighten the inner circle. If the witch thi
