-Lara- I turned off my motorcycle, removed my helmet, and hung it on one of the handles, but I stayed seated, staring at the massive castle in front of me. I hadn’t been here since I was looking for my sister… who I hadn’t seen since she returned. Had I really let nine months slip by? It was already May. The weather was warming up, but inside, I felt cold. No, not cold—just closed off. I swung my leg over the bike and stood beside it, debating whether I should go through with this. But I had to. This was my best chance to speak to the king. Steeling myself, I walked toward the grand staircase leading to the castle entrance. I stopped at the massive doors and knocked. After a moment, one of them opened. “Lara!” my sister exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. She must have seen me a

