Clara’s POV
I turned away from the window, my fingers trailing lightly over the silky fabric of the curtains. The palace was still quiet, blanketed in the hush of early morning, but I could feel the pulse of power that lived within its walls.
Last night had shown me something terrifying… and something useful.
The King wasn’t just powerful. He was untouchable. Fearless. A monster in his own right, but a monster that commanded gods and demons alike. And in a world like this, a woman needed more than courage or skills with a blade, she needed proximity to power.
If I couldn’t beat the beast, I had to tame it.
A slow smile spread across my lips as I walked back toward the mirror. My reflection stared back, fierce and beautiful, eyes sharp with purpose.
I wasn’t a fool. I knew love had no
