Page 178 of Crowned In Venom

The Ghost exhales, studying me like I am something unnatural.

"This poison—this ritual—it is ancient. No one understands its full nature." His eyes flick to me. "But I do know this. The Matriarch is not tethered to you. You are tethered to her."

My stomach twists.

"It’s one way?" I whisper.

He nods. "You underwent the ritual. You survived it. And now… you are something else."

The words settle over me like a weight I do not know how to bear.

I don’t know what this means.

But I know we can use it.

Varkos’s jaw clenches. "She won’t see her own downfall coming."

My fingers tighten around his.

"Then let’s end her."

For the first time, a smile ghosts over Varkos’s lips.

He leans forward, his breath brushing my skin.

"Anya—"

His voice is low, intimate, and when his lips find mine, it is not frantic or desperate.

It is steady. Grounding. Real.

I melt into him, tasting relief, exhaustion, everything we almost lost.

A future we can still have.

A future we will take.

The door bursts open.

"Apologies," Kareth drawls, his golden eyes glinting. "But we don’t have time for whatever lovers' reunion this is."

Varkos curses against my lips, pulling back.

I glare at Kareth, still breathless.

"You have impeccable timing."

"I do my best," he smirks. "But if you two are done, we have a war to plan."

54

ANYA

Iinsisted on coming to the meeting room. Here I am, sitting quietly while surrounded by by rebels, slaves and fighters who are ready to go against the Matriarch.

I listen in, focusing on Varkos. On how he leads. I’m amazed.

Suddenly, my head hurts. The moment I close my eyes, I feel her.

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