The morning mist still clung to the forest floor as the sun stretched its golden fingers across the towering pines of Draka’s kingdom. Selena stood at the edge of the terrace, a fur lined cloak draped around her shoulders, though she hardly felt the cold. Her gaze was fixed on the inner courtyard, eyes narrowed, watching… waiting.
She had heard rumors—soft whispers that slipped through walls and across lips, about the beauty of the human girl. Aria.
The very name left a bitter taste on Selena’s tongue.
Then, like the sun parting clouds, she saw her.
Aria.
A vision in simplicity. No jewels. No royal insignia. Just soft black hair swept loosely down her back, pale skin kissed by dawnlight, and eyes that somehow seemed to glow even without the moon.
Selena’s mouth parted. So this was he
