Chapter 31 · The Throne Beneath His Ribs

Cael's heart beat once.

Silver light leaked between his fingers and painted the ruin in cold, trembling bands. Beneath Tower Nine, the buried beast answered with a pulse so deep that dust rose from the floor.

Lio stood over Cael with the gatekeeper's core clenched in her palm. It was smaller than a child's fist, black at the center and threaded with white fire. The thing had screamed when she tore it out of him. Now it was quiet.

Too quiet.

"Oro?" she whispered.

Nothing stirred inside her ribs.

Not a growl. Not a sarcastic remark. Not even the faint pressure of ancient heat against her lungs.

Lio swallowed. Her mouth tasted of ash and blood. "Oro, answer me."

Cael's chest opened beneath his torn shirt—not with flesh, but with light. A narrow silver line traced the old binding sigil, then spread across his sternum like cracks in ice.

His head turned toward her. His eyes were still Cael's gray eyes, but something older looked out through them.

"Where is my crown?" the voice asked.

The sound did not come from his throat.