“You’ve tamed him, River,” he whispered, voice almost breaking. “The thing I spent my life trying to chain—you calmed it with just your presence. With your scent, your voice...”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she reached up to cup his face.
And then, finally, she gathered her courage.
“Heiko,” she whispered, her voice hesitant but steady, “can I ask you something?”
He tensed ever so slightly beneath her touch, but nodded.
She took a breath, summoning every ounce of bravery. “Were you always like this? I mean… with your beast so close to the surface, with… the Deathbringer?”
She felt it instantly—the way his muscles locked beneath her cheek. For a heartbeat, she regretted the question. She lifted her head, eyes wide. “If you don’t want to tell me—really—it’s fine. Just forget I said a
