Chapter 418

Blood flowed freely from the incision, the crimson liquid stark against Robert’s pale skin. Eleanor didn’t hesitate. With swift precision, she made another incision—this time on her own hand. Her movements were mechanical, devoid of the slightest tremor or pause. She pressed her bleeding wound against Robert’s, their blood mingling in a fleeting connection. The moment their wounds met, Eleanor’s body convulsed. Her shoulders shuddered violently, and her face turned ashen. The Three Cold Waters had begun to take hold. A bone-deep chill swept through her veins like an icy tide, consuming her from the inside out. Her vision blurred, and the world tilted dangerously. Eleanor bit down on her lip until the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, forcing herself to remain upright. Failure wasn’t an option. If she fell now, it wouldn’t just be her life on the line—Robert would die too. “Not yet,” she whispered hoarsely to herself, her voice trembling but resolute. She closed her eyes, drawin