“Okay, little one. Look deep into my eyes and relax. Let me in.” Balor lowers his sunglasses with careful deliberation, revealing the blood-red of his basilisk eyes. The slitted pupils pulse in a rhythmic pattern that immediately captures my attention.

I can’t look away. Don’t want to look away. The pattern is hypnotic, pulling me down into safety.

“You are safe now, Raven. You protected yourself and your mates. It’s time to sleep. Rest now—your mates will watch over you. Orpheus is already at your house, ready to coil around you if that’s what you want.” His voice seems to come from very far away, echoing through water.

My limbs are getting heavy, weighted down as if they’re made of stone. Every breath is harder to draw in, like I’m trying to breathe through honey. The world is getting fuzzy at the edges, soft and dark and inviting.

“Keir... Need Keir...” The words slur together, my tongue thick and clumsy in my mouth.

“I’m here.” I feel his hand rest on my lower back—warm, solid, real. The touch grounds me, anchors me to safety.

That’s all it takes for me to finally surrender to the deep sleep the tonic will enforce. The world goes black like someone blew out a candle, and my last conscious thought is relief.

I know I’m finally safe.