By sunrise, everyone in Moonfall Palace already knew.
The Blood Sovereign hadn’t slept. She locked herself in her chambers, and despite everything, a second black feather appeared.
Fear pressed over the palace like a storm about to break.
No one had an explanation.
The Royal Council called an emergency meeting. Afterward, someone knocked at Kaelira’s door.
“Your Majesty…”
“The four princes want to see you. Privately. Not together—they each want you alone.”
Kaelira sighed. “All at once?”
The messenger shook his head. “No. Separately.”
She didn’t need to ask why. Of course, each prince wanted something. None trusted the others enough to say it out loud.
The First Prince
Darian arrived first. He stood rigid, his usual unreadable self. They waited in silence until he finally spoke.
