Zara’s POV
Princess.
The word hit harder than any blow I had ever taken.
Not because it was loud.
Not because it was threatening.
Because it felt… familiar.
Like a name I had forgotten.
Like something that used to belong to me.
My fingers tightened on the balcony railing until the stone cracked beneath the pressure.
Greyson noticed.
Of course he did.
His presence shifted beside me—closer, stronger, grounding.
“Zara,” he said quietly.
But I barely heard him.
My eyes were locked on the woman below.
She hadn’t moved.
Hadn’t blinked.
Hadn’t looked at anyone else.
Just me.
Waiting.
Always waiting.
“Don’t answer her,” Greyson’s voice dropped, more dangerous now.
That pulled me back slightly.
Enough to breathe.
Enough to think.
“I wasn’t planning to,” I muttered, though m
