We rode in silence for what felt like an eternity. The rhythmic, powerful gait of the horse beneath us was a hypnotic lullaby, but the adrenaline still viciously pumping through my veins kept my vivid red eyes wide open, staring blindly into the dense, creeping fog. My mind was a chaotic, spinning vortex of absolute disbelief. Only hours ago, I had been standing in the grand hall, fully believing I was about to be crowned Luna. I had drained my own life essence, bleeding three precious vials of my potent healer’s blood to secure Marcus's strength, trusting his empty, cowardly promises. Now, I was the captive, or perhaps the brutally claimed prize, of the most terrifying warlord in the realm.
A sudden, heavy shift in the shadows ahead pulled me from my dark spiraling thoughts. A towering f
