Chapter 125
Nikolai
I knew something was wrong the second we stepped into the palace.
It wasn’t the guards. It wasn’t the strange quietness, or even the queen’s fake smile. It was Ella’s scent. Or rather, the lack of it. Her sweet, calming scent—like jasmine and rain—was barely there. Faint. Fading.
Aidan noticed it too. His jaw tightened as he stood beside me, and I knew he was thinking the same thing. Something was off.
The queen came forward with open arms, smiling as though we were her favorite people in the world. “My dear boys,” she said warmly. “Welcome back. I’ve missed you both.”
I didn’t return the smile. I never really trusted her. Not since we were kids. There was always something about the way she looked at us—too polished, too perfect, too cold underneath.
She guided u
