For one long, terrible heartbeat, the temple held its breath.
The glowing trail from the floating map quivered, stuttering like a dying flame—impatient, warning them the path beyond the ancient door wouldn't wait forever.
A decision had to be made.
But which of them would stay behind?
Alessia's heart thrashed painfully against her ribs.
The weight of every eye, every fate inside that temple, pressed down on her like stone.
Luca stood before her, jaw clenched, eyes blazing with a love that bordered on madness.
Her husband ,her fire, her danger.
and her shield.
The one man the river seemed hungry for.
"No one else is going through that door except me," Luca said, voice low, dark, absolute. "Alessia is not setting foot in there without me beside her."
His words struck the chamber like a blade slammed into stone.
Donato stepped closer, tension coiling in every line of his posture. "Luca, think. If she sensed danger for you, then we should respect that."
