After meeting the mysterious prisoner, Kaelira couldn’t shake the words from her mind.
“Welcome home… Princess Astraea.”
The name followed her through every corridor of Moonfall Palace.
It echoed in every quiet moment.
By the time she reached her chambers, dawn was still hours away.
She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, trying to steady her breathing.
The room was silent.
Almost too silent.
She crossed to the silver mirror beside her bed, hoping cold water would clear her thoughts.
As she lifted the pitcher…
She froze.
Her reflection was smiling.
Kaelira wasn’t.
The smile lingered.
Slow.
Knowing.
Patient.
Her blood turned to ice.
Kaelira slowly stepped backward.
The woman in the mirror didn’t.
Instead, she tilted her head, studying Kaelira with quiet amu
