Liora’s grip tightened around the Heart of Thorns as she made her way through the dense forest, her breaths coming in short, quick bursts. The weight of the relic, both physical and magical, felt heavier with each passing step, the power within it pulsing against her palm like a heartbeat. Every inch of her body hummed with tension, her mind racing with the knowledge that at any moment, Kaelan—or worse, his agents—could descend upon her.
The rogue had arranged the meeting in a secluded glade, far from the prying eyes of the fae court. It was risky—everything about this was risky—but Liora had no other choice. She had stolen the relic, defied Kaelan, and now she was on the precipice of something even more dangerous.
When she arrived, the rogue was already there, standing in the shadows of
