I crouched low in the shadows, barely daring to breathe. The dimly lit room smelled of stale parchment and iron, the air heavy with secrets. I had been tracking Axel for days now, ever since the whispers had started. Something was wrong. And I was determined to find out what.
I had expected to find him meeting with someone from the rebellion, but what I heard sent a chill down my spine. The voices echoed in the silence, too soft at first for me to make out the words. But as they grew clearer, I realized just how deep the treachery ran.
"I’ll make sure it’s done," Axel’s voice was low, too calm for someone speaking about war. "Nina will never suspect a thing."
The betrayal hit me like a blow to the chest. My heart raced, my fists clenched at my sides. I leaned in, trying to hear every wo
