Sophia
The evening breeze was soft against my skin, carrying the salty tang of the sea that always reminded me I was on the island.
Erick’s island, the place he called a sanctuary for me and for our unborn pup.
The waves crashed in the distance, steady and rhythmic, as if the entire ocean was trying to soothe my restless mind.
“Shall we?” Queen Elise’s voice was gentle, yet filled with the quiet authority of someone who had seen more storms than calm waters in her lifetime.
I turned, seeing her already dressed in a flowing gown the color of twilight, her hair pinned back elegantly with only a few strands free, moving with the breeze.
She didn’t look like a woman carrying the weight of a kingdom, an ailing health, and a son as burdened as Erick.
She looked serene almost like the se
