07 – THE PRICE OF POWER - SWEENEY
PRINCE SWEENEY
She told me to go back to sleep. As if it were that simple.
I closed my eyes, feigning indifference, my breathing steady and calm, but tranquility was the last thing I felt. My mind was restless, my thoughts tangled. Meridian's voice lingered in the air, soft yet troubled, and the faint scent of her sweat mixed with her natural fragrance—wild and pure—invaded my senses. It was maddening. I had to fight the urge to lean closer, to inhale her deeply.
Instead, I forced myself to remain still, muscles tense beneath the blanket. I could feel her beside me, just a breath away, her presence like a flame burning dangerously close to my skin. The darkness of the room offered no refuge. Her words echoed in my mind.
**Wars, deaths, chaos,
