The halls of Kaelan’s castle were cold, unnervingly quiet as Liora moved through them, her every sense heightened, her heartbeat loud in her ears. The stone walls, lined with ancient tapestries and flickering lanterns, seemed to hum with the weight of centuries of magic. Fae magic. Dangerous, deceptive, and always watching.
Liora kept her steps light, her breath shallow as she pressed herself against the shadowed walls, moving carefully through the castle’s winding corridors. The rogue’s guidance had been clear—this was her only chance. She needed to find the Heart of Thorns, the powerful relic hidden deep within Kaelan’s chambers, and get out before anyone suspected her true intentions. But even with the rogue’s cryptic instructions, every second felt like a razor’s edge, her nerves fray
