Sera's POV
As soon as the door closed and Gideon’s heavy footsteps faded down the hallway, the suffocating reality of what was happening slammed back into my chest.
If Lucian was pulling from the bond, he was gaining power by the second while I withered away into nothing. It wasn't just about me being weak—it was about him growing stronger. There was no way Gideon could win a one-on-one fight against a monster fueled by me amplifying him.
Unless...
I squeezed my hands shut so hard my nails dug painful, sharp crescents into my palms. The choice stood before me clear as day, terrifying and irreversible. I had to trust Gideon. Deep down, past the fear and the shadows of my past, I did trust him. Completely.
I pushed the heavy covers off my legs, my knees wobbling as I stood up, but I fo
