Chapter 194

THIRD PERSON’S POV The last of the warriors melted into the twilight, their footsteps echoing against the still-smouldering earth. One lingered, his voice low: One of the remaining warriors paused, shoulders weighted with unease. His gaze lingered on Olivia and Dominic as he spoke quietly, eyes restless in the gloom. “The royals will be here soon,” he murmured with solemn certainty. “They already know about her existence. They’ll come calling—for her. Be ready.” But Olivia didn’t hear another word. Her gaze was fixed on Derek's hand—cold, pale, and rigid. It lay limp in her own like a fragile offering, ankles curled around the easing warmth of her grip. Releasing it felt like surrendering his memory—and she was nowhere near ready to do that. Derek’s body lay still. The color had drained from his skin, leaving faint patches tinted blue where life once lingered. The remnants of the curse that had ended him still stained his chest—a cruel echo of the battle’s arcane cruelty. Every breath