Maria Reyes
I woke up slowly, still feeling peaceful from a deep sleep. My mind went back to earlier—Darian and me in the bathtub. Water splashed as he touched my skin and kissed my collarbone. The memory made me feel warm and content. For once, the chaos of our world felt far away, and I let myself believe, just for a moment, that I was more to him than a fleeting desire.
I stretched, the cool air brushing my bare legs as I slid out of bed. The castle was still, its usual hum of tension absent. Darian wasn’t beside me, he slipped away, leaving me with nothing but the echo of his touch. I pulled on a robe, tying it loosely around my waist, and padded toward the door, my bare feet silent on the stone floor. But that peace broke suddenly.
A voice, low and unfamiliar, drifted down the hall
