The remainder of the journey passed with no further incidents, and a comforting sense of normalcy began to return to their group. The guards relaxed ever so slightly, though they remained vigilant, and the carriage rolled through serene meadows, winding rivers, and ancient forests—an ever-shifting landscape that River took in with a kind of childlike awe.
But as peaceful as the journey might have seemed on the surface, there was no mistaking the storm brewing between Heiko and his mate.
The warriors riding nearby began exchanging knowing glances, though no one dared speak aloud of what they were witnessing. Still, it was plain to all: Prince Heiko, the feared Deathbringer of the Nightshade bloodline, had become absolutely captive to his mate.
His behavior had changed. Not in weakness—bu
