Inez POV:

The plan had solidified in my mind as I stepped into the cave. The cave was damp and smelled of blood and something else—the unique, scorching scent of the Dragonblood poison. The man's groans were weaker now.

I knelt beside him, my hand reaching for his neck to check his pulse.

The moment my fingertips were an inch from his skin, his eyes flew open.

They were the color of ice, a startling silver-gray filled with the wariness and killing intent of a cornered wolf.

His hand shot out and clamped around my wrist. The strength was shocking, a crushing force that felt like it would snap my bones.

Pain flared up my arm, but I didn't scream. I met his gaze calmly.

"Let go," I said, my voice steady. "I can save you."

His eyes, sharp as daggers, scanned my face. I could feel the heat radiating from his body; the poison was incinerating him.

"You have Dragonblood poison," I continued, my tone even. "In a few more hours, your organs will be turned to ash. I am the only person who can save you."

My composure seemed to surprise him. The killing intent in his eyes receded slightly, but the suspicion remained.

"Who are you?" he rasped, his voice a low, magnetic rumble.

I ignored his question. "Do you want to live?"

He was silent for a long moment, his silver-gray eyes boring into me. Finally, he slowly released my wrist. A dark, angry bruise was already forming on my skin.

I paid it no mind and immediately began assessing his injuries. He had multiple knife wounds, the most severe being a deep gash in his abdomen, but the poison spreading toward his heart was the real threat.

I pretended to rummage through the pockets of my soaked dress, but in reality, I retrieved a sterile scalpel and a set of thin silver needles from the storage space linked to my soul.

His eyes widened slightly as he saw the items appear in my hand as if from nowhere, a flicker of surprise that quickly turned to something more thoughtful, but the pain was too intense for him to question it.

"To cure the poison, I first need to let the toxic blood out of your wounds," I explained, not waiting for his consent before I sliced open the edges of the gash.

Black, foul-smelling blood immediately oozed out.

He let out a muffled grunt, sweat beading on his forehead, but he didn't stop me.

My movements were swift and precise, born from memories that felt like my own. I inserted the silver needles into several points on his body, blocking the poison's path to his heart. It was as if I had done this a thousand times before.

When I finished, I told him, "This will only suppress the poison temporarily, buying you some time. To eradicate it, I need several specific herbs."

I stood up, ready to search for them.

"Wait," he called out.

I turned back. He was leaning against the rock wall, his face still pale but his breathing more even. "What do you want as payment?"

This was the moment I was waiting for. I walked back to him.

"I don't want money or jewels," I said, looking directly into his eyes. "I save your life, and you give me a promise. When I need it, no matter what I ask you to do, you must do it."

It was an outrageous, unbalanced demand. I expected him to refuse.

He studied me, his gaze so intense it felt like he could see into my very soul.

After a long silence, he gave a slow, deliberate nod. His voice was weak, but it carried an undeniable weight of power. "I, Archon Caspian Kensington, give my oath. You save my life, I grant you one promise."

Archon.

My heart lurched. In the Vorrath Empire, an Archon was second in power only to the High Sovereign himself. I had just saved the true ruler of the Kensington family. Damien's... uncle?

A wave of dizzying triumph washed over me, but I kept my face a blank mask. "Good. Now, you should rest, Lord Archon. I will go find your medicine."

I turned and walked out of the cave, my heart hammering against my ribs with a mix of excitement and fear.

I had gambled, and I had won.

I had not only survived, but I had also gained a promise from someone powerful enough to turn my world upside down.

I quickly found the herbs I needed, crushed them into a dark green paste, and returned to the cave. Caspian had already passed out from blood loss and exhaustion.

I unfastened his torn shirt to apply the poultice to the wound on his abdomen. His torso was a landscape of hard muscle and old scars, radiating a sense of immense power even in unconsciousness.

As soon as I finished, the adrenaline that had been keeping me going vanished. A wave of profound exhaustion hit me, and my legs gave out.

I collapsed on the cave floor beside him and surrendered to the darkness.