The pendant trembled in Queen Seraphina's hand.
For a moment, the entire world seemed to hold its breath.
The valley.
The soldiers.
The rebels.
Even the wind.
Everything faded until only two people remained.
Mother and daughter.
Separated by eighteen years of pain.
United by blood.
Elira stared at the tiny silver pendant.
A gift.
Made before she was born.
Kept all these years.
The realization shattered something inside her.
Because it didn't fit.
It didn't fit the image she'd carried for years.
The monster who ordered her death wasn't supposed to keep reminders of her child.
Wasn't supposed to cry.
Wasn't supposed to look broken.
The Queen swallowed hard.
"I wanted to give it to you myself."
Elira couldn't speak.
The words lodged painfully in her throat.
So much ang
