What am I?" she whispered, the words barely carried on the breath she drew.
It was not the first time she had asked that question tonight, not even to him — but it sounded different now, hollowed out by the weight of Selene's warnings, by the magic coiling beneath her skin, by the way Matias looked at her with awe and knowing all at once.
She already feared the answer. But not knowing… was worse.
Matias didn't answer right away. His hand continued to stroke gently across the back of her neck, along her shoulder, grounding her with the steadiness of his touch. His gaze softened, but it held that same unwavering intensity.
"You remember the story of the Volkov family?" he asked, voice low. "The one passed down through the noble houses."
She nodded. "Where your ancestor conquered the dragon?"
