The Silver Pact
A massive cloud of white steam hissed into the air, smelling sharply of ozone and winter pine.
When the steam cleared, Volkan pulled the finished artifact from the trough using padded iron grips.
The Abyssal Anchor was a breathtaking piece of master craftsmanship. It was a palm-sized star of dark starlight-silver, centered around a deep, glowing aquamarine quartz crystal. Inside the transparent stone, a tiny, self-sustaining flame of royal wildfire danced effortlessly, suspended in a swirling drop of ocean-blue light.
"It is done, my Queen," Volkan said respectfully, presenting the talisman on a velvet cloth. "This stone is permanently tuned to your mate's soul-frequency. So long as Alpha Gi