The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a shadow over the castle as night settled in, its darkness thickening the air. Vera lay in bed, still recovering from the ordeal, but a deep unease gnawed at her. She could sense that the atmosphere in the kingdom had shifted since Zach’s departure. Whispers of discontent echoed in the halls, and the guards’ expressions were taut with tension.
“Savannah, I don’t like this,” Vera murmured, glancing out the window at the flickering torches illuminating the castle grounds. “It feels like something is coming.”
Savannah, seated beside her, shared her worry. “I know. There’s a palpable tension in the air, and without Zach here, the kingdom is vulnerable. But we must remain strong.”
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from outside, shaking the walls of the c
