The weight of the vision clung to Ariana for days. Her chest felt heavy, her steps unsteady, every corner of the fortress suddenly oppressive. She couldn’t rid herself of her mother’s eyes, the warmth of her touch, or the whispered accusation—Kael wouldn’t allow it.
Kael noticed.
He always noticed.
The Alpha King’s gaze was relentless, sharp as a blade against her back. He said nothing at first, but his silence was louder than any words. He prowled the halls like a restless predator, snapping at servants, drilling warriors past exhaustion, his temper thin and violent. And when his eyes landed on Ariana, his entire body seemed to tense, as though he knew she was carrying a secret he could not pry free.
On the fourth night after the vision, Ariana sat in the library, staring at the flick
