The night had fallen like a heavy blanket, smothering the palace grounds in darkness. Elena stood by the window in their temporary chambers, looking out into the distant woods, where the shadows of trees seemed to move like silent sentinels. She could feel the weight of the unknown pressing in on her, each whisper of the wind carrying the fear and uncertainty of what lay ahead.
The meeting with the mysterious man had left her with more questions than answers. The mention of a mirror, of a force older than the clan's traditions, gnawed at her thoughts. What if this wasn't just about her, about the Inverse Mark? What if this was something much larger—something that could change the entire foundation of their world?
Roan was across the room, pacing back and forth, a map of the kingdom sprea
