The morning sun hung high over Castle Valdren, casting long, sharp shadows that seemed to claw at the stone walls.
Prince Aldric stood outside his mother's chambers, staring at the carved wooden doors.
Something was wrong.
He could feel it in his bones, a cold dread that had nothing to do with the weather.
His mother had lied.
He knew she had.
The image refused to leave his mind:
her reddened eyes,
the tremor in her voice,
the way she had avoided looking at him during breakfast.
Something had happened involving his father.
Aldric pushed open the doors.
Queen Seraphina sat beside the window, a book resting unopened in her lap.
She looked up as he entered.
For a moment, surprise crossed her face.
Then came the smile.
The false smile.
The one she wore whenever she wished to h
