refused to leave Kaelira.
She had returned to the palace hours ago, but the old man’s words still echoed inside her mind.
You were born to become the final sacrifice.
Every smile she passed in the corridors felt heavier.
Every soldier who saluted her.
Every child who called her Your Majesty.
They believed she had come to save them.
None of them knew that saving the kingdom might one day cost her life.
Kaelira closed her eyes.
“No…”
“There has to be another way.”
Before she could gather her thoughts, the palace bells rang.
Not once.
Not twice.
Three times.
The signal for war.
A breathless scout rushed into the throne room and dropped to one knee.
“My Queen!”
“The Crimson Fang has crossed the northern pass!”
“They’ve brought siege beasts!”
The room erupted into chaos.
Ge
