The banquet commenced.
Selena stood upon the stage, a vision in a floor-length, ink-green gown. Silas had personally overseen the decor—a backdrop of lush greenery, cascading ferns, trailing ivy, and tiny, star-like white blossoms. Amidst this miniature forest, she appeared as the most exquisite and dangerous flower.
Under the spotlight, she addressed the guests. Her voice wasn't loud, yet it possessed a crystalline clarity that sliced through the cavernous hall.
Beautiful. Ethereal. Untouchable.
In that moment, the innate regality of the Blackthorn heir was laid bare, radiant and blinding. She was, without question, the sole protagonist of the evening. Every eye in the room was anchored to her.
And within Selena’s own world, she could still only perceive the shifting patterns of ligh
