Dravina POV

“I’m sorry, Dravina.” Ansel’s voice was low, thick with regret. “I went too far… it’s just” he exhaled hard, eyes dropping “I was hoping the gene had passed to you. It matters more than you know. The survival of our bloodline depends on it.”

He wasn’t pressing anymore, only trying to make sense of the desperation that had spilled past his control.

I held his gaze for a long, quiet beat before I inclined my head.

“Well,” I murmured, “I can’t wield ...