I unclenched my throat, just enough to cover the rawness, but it didn’t swallow the white-hot fury coiling behind my ribs. The bruise looked like someone had pressed the night into her skin.
Perseus. The name tasted like rot. Like death was on its way.
My shoulders tensed, my chest hammering as my fingers twitched with the urge to strike. She flinched the tiniest fraction, not from the pressure of my grip but because my face had changed.
Heat simmered awake somewhere behind my eyes, keen-fanged amusement at the idea of unmaking a man who called himself entitled.
I wouldkillhim for this. I would rip his tongue through that monstrous arrogant smirk and choke him with it.
Oh my gods, the Viper laughed with me,I couldn’t fucking wait.
But right now... right now Elva needed me, not the curse or the hunger, just me.
“Elva—”
Her eyes slid away. “I had a glamour on.” The explanation was paper-thin, an attempt to stitch a wound closed with silk. And it trembled in the space between us. “That’s why you haven’t seen them.”
How many times had that hand landed and she’d folded light over the bruise like a lie? How many days had she hidden this, praying it would not be noticed? How long had I been blind to it?
Callum... oh gods, if he knew—
She squeezed my fingers, knowing all too well where my thoughts have moved to. “Please—” The sound slipped from her like a frightened animal. “Don’t tell Callum.”
“Why?”
“Because I can’t risk what he’ll do.” The words tumbled out fast now. “Or what will happen to him. Or you.”
The lights in the chamber pulsed back alive, echoing her desperation, before steadying once more. She reached her free hand for mine, intertwining our fingers, as though I were the only tether keeping her from shattering entirely.
“I need you both more than ever.” She tried to smile, but it trembled at the edges. “I’m okay.” The lie was a blade pressed against her own throat. “I’m okay, Verena. I promise.”
The last word fractured. And I shattered with it.
I tucked my forehead to hers, breath coming hard and fast. The smallness of that promise blew the lid off whatever calm I had left.
I let the tears come because they were honest, tasting of iron and a vow I didn’t yet have words for. They ran hot and unstoppable, running down my cheeks in serried lines.
I didn’t wipe them away; I let her see it all. The rage, the sorrow. That I would protect her better.
I would burn kingdoms for her.
I would flay Perseus until his name itself bled.
“My job is to protect you, El.” I didn’t cry, rarely had. Sadness was wasted breath when rage could be a fist in a throat. But today, the old rules unraveled as grief came anyway, blistering, and traitorous.
Her hand reached up, brushing a tear from my cheek before blending it with her own. Vibrance still clung to her skin. Fear did too.
“Do you really think there would be no repercussions?” she whispered.
“Is that why you hid it from me?” My voice cracked. “How many times has he hurt you like this?”
The more I pictured Perseus’s hands crushing her fragile skin, the more I had to talk myself out of storming from this room and ending him, messily, gloriously, this very instant.
Fangs dragged across my thoughts.Deep breaths, Verena. Don’t let it win.
Her chin dropped. “The entire point has been for me to likely marry Perseus. Even if I’d told you, it wouldn’t have mattered.” She shook her head once, golden hair trembling like a fall of light. “I’m just one step in Obrann’splan. And he won’t let it fail. No one will risk the kingdoms falling again. Not once the true heirs sit on their thrones. I’ll be married and crowned before every watching eye in Selvarra.” Her laugh was so damn thin. “And then locked away, until I’m needed.”
The last place Elva should be wasunseen.
