Arabella’s pov
Nathaniel dismissed the soldier, leaving us alone in the cold, grand hall. The flickering light from the torches cast long shadows on the stone walls, and the weight of the decision I made seemed to close in on me with each passing second.
“You’ll be rewarded, Arabella,” Nathaniel said, his voice low, his eyes gleaming with a hunger for victory. “Once Mistefell is ours, you will no longer live in your sister’s shadow. You’ll be above her in every way.”
I wanted to smile, to show him the confidence he expected from me, but my face betrayed none of the satisfaction he imagined. Instead, I forced a nod, my throat tight. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted,” I murmured, but the words felt empty. Hollow.
Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed, as if sensing my hesitation. “Do not waver now,” he
