Ember Frost’s POV
It was just another quiet Saturday morning. The Northern Duke was in the living room with my father, laughing and talking about the old days—the kind of talk that always made them sound like brothers instead of men who’d once gone to war together. Meanwhile, Alina had been asked to join my mother under the pretense of helping her pick out a dress for the graduation ball.
She didn’t seem too eager to go, though. Even she, with all her confidence and craft, knew that stepping into the queen’s chambers wasn’t something just anyone could do.
“See you later, Dad.” She leaned down and kissed the Duke on the cheek, her voice soft and warm. “I’ll miss you.”
The Duke chuckled and returned her kiss, his eyes soft with fatherly affection as he watched her walk away.
It looked l
