MY CRUEL PROTECTOR
I was the only one who could handle her fire.
"Nevan," she sobbed, her hands clutching my face. The violet light was still there, but it was soft now, like the dawn. "You're back. You're really back."
"I told you," I whispered, pulling her into a crushing embrace. "I'm the only thing that's ever been yours. You can't get rid of me that easily."
I felt her heartbeat—steady, powerful, and perfectly synced with the child’s. The Heir was quiet, watching us with a strange, alien curiosity. It had seen the Mother defeat the Grandmother. It had learned a new lesson: that love wasn't a flaw, but a firewall.