Nicole’s POV
That night stretched on endlessly, as if the universe itself was holding its breath, leaving me alone with my spiraling thoughts. I lay in bed, watching shadows shift and change in the darkness, each one a reminder of the uncertainty Jake’s arrival had dragged into our lives. I kept glancing at Nathan’s side of the bed, the empty space beside me a stark reminder that he was out there somewhere dealing with the chaos Jake had stirred up. My stomach knotted tighter each time I thought about it, and sleep felt more distant than ever.
My mind raced back to the coronation—the heaviness of the ceremonial robes, the way everyone had looked at me with expectation and pride, how it had felt like I was about to step into a new chapter of my life. Then, out of nowhere, Jake had walked
