When I opened my eyes, the world regained its shape.
It was as if time had stopped, because only seconds had passed—
but to me, it felt like an hour.
There were no more shadows whispering in my ear.
No inner fangs demanding dominion.
No raven wings nudging the edges of my thoughts.
There was silence.
And all eyes were fixed on me.
I stood at the center of the throne room, beneath a canopy of stone and amber light glowing like embers.
To one side, the two attendants watched me with their hands clasped before them, breath held.
To the other, King Aedrian remained kneeling, one knee grounded on the marble floor, his arm extended toward me, palm open—
as if offering me not just his power,
but the entire world.
No one spoke.
Not even Nox, who had withdrawn to a far corner of the r
