Midnight Crown
The Widow opened the box with a soft click, revealing three objects: a spine ring of hammered silver, an ivory bone-blade stained at the hilt, and a shard of blackened glass, edges melted from old fire.
“Pick one,” the Widow said. “Burn one. Carry one. That is the price of power in this city.”
Eirwen studied the objects, heartbeat loud in her ears. She looked at Dom, searching his face for anything—approval, warning, the edge of command.
He stepped closer, fingers sliding along her jaw, tilting her head up until she met his gaze. “You don’t have to impress anyone here,” he murmured. “Not her. Not the city. You do this for you. But you do it knowing I’m watching.”