Amias presses a hand to his forehead, repeating the same mantra to remind himself of why duty should come before pleasure.
I know. I promised Mother. I'm now responsible for Lira's happiness. I sealed my future. I cannot falter. I will endure. I know I will. I will survive this.
He glances at Heidi who is still curled against Grayson, still shaking and exhausted. She is small and alive and entirely unaware of the chaos she has unleashed around her. His chest aches with Vark snarling. Four brothers. One girl. Duty, loyalty, and prophecy are pulling every strand of him in opposite directions.
Amias pushes himself up, muscles screaming from tension and adrenaline. He forces his gaze away from Heidi, away from Grayson's protective arms, away from the warmth that calls to him like a forbidden flame. He needs to think, plan, and survive the next hour without losing himself to desire or abandoning his promises.
Because this… this is just the beginning.
.
