Gwen's heart raced in her chest as she processed this newfound information. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and the magnitude of what it all meant was slowly sinking in. The revelation that she wasn't alone, that Thorndyke too had been chosen by his own ancient and powerful stone, it changed everything.
"No..." Gwen breathed, her heart hammering against her chest, "That... that can't be..."
Thorndyke said nothing. His gaze was intense, a mix of pride, arrogance, and a hint of vulnerability. There was no lie in his eyes. He was telling the truth. His gaze flicked down to her wrist, still caught in the grip of his hand. He was holding her, as if to prevent her from bolting away.
"You and I," he muttered, his voice just above a whisper, "we're not so different after all, little venom."
