“Why can’t I free myself from you, Zion?”
That familiar sting burned again at her neck, right where the mark of the bond still lingered. It felt like a tiny ember glowing beneath her skin, searing every time a memory of him surfaced. Arwen clutched the side of her neck, trying to steady the pulsing ache that kept returning.
She rose slowly from the edge of the bed. The thin fabric of her nightgown brushed the cold floor as she stepped toward the balcony. Taking a long breath, she opened the door and let the night air wash over her face.
Winterveil stretched before her in a beautiful silence. The full moon hung high, lighting the stone rooftops and casting shadows of the tall pines in the distance. Torches along the pathways still glimmered, offering a soft glow that whispered of peace.
