The war banners had not yet come to their land.
But war had already entered their hearts.
Kael had noticed the difference for days.
Not in the Pack.
Not on the board.
In her.
Seraphina was quieter now.
No, not weaker.
Never weaker
But more quiet.
She bore the weight of every choice by herself.
She heard all the reports.
She considered every defense.
She looked over every enemy.
And when everybody went away...
She was alone.
Kael knew why.
Because he used to be the person she trusted most.
And he was the one who betrayed that trust too.
He thought of the day she died.
The platform itself.
The masses.
The way she was looking at him.
Not with spite.
That would have been simpler.
She looked at him, as though trying to understand how the man she loved could allow it
