Power always demands a sacrifice.
I just never imagined the price would be… me.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the burning map.
The silver words kept replaying in my mind.
You have been found.
Who had found me?
The hidden Queen?
The assassins?
Or something even older?
Every answer only led to more questions.
The next morning, Kael knocked gently on my bedroom door.
“Are you awake?”
“Barely.”
“I need you to come with me.”
His voice was calm, but I could hear the worry beneath it.
I opened the door.
His shoulder was healing well, though he still moved carefully.
“You should be resting.”
He smiled.
“So should you.”
“I slept.”
“You stared at the ceiling all night.”
I blinked.
“You knew?”
“My room is across the hall.”
“I heard you walking.”
I looked away, embarrassed.
