Theodore and Samantha had barely caught their breath when the first scream tore through the night. At first, it seemed like one of those distant cries that echo across the walls of the palace and fade into nothing. But then another followed, this time sharper, closer, and filled with a kind of terror that made their blood run cold.
Their hearts raced as they scrambled into their clothes, exchanging only hurried glances. Whatever was happening outside was no ordinary disturbance. Theodore’s instincts as a warrior pulsed inside him; Samantha clutched at his arm, but even she knew hesitation would only leave them blind to danger.
They pushed open the chamber doors — and froze.
The courtyard below was a battlefield of chaos. Guards clashed with a figure they all knew, yet none dared to trul
