“Guards seize her!
Vashi froze on the spot; she could recognize the owner of that voice anywhere. It was Ragaleon's!
From behind the nearest pillar, a shoe emerged; it was Micah’s.
Another appeared on the upper deck of the hallway, her hand trailing on the wooden railings, the sound of soft clicks coming from a pair of shoes echoing. It was Racheal.
One by one, figures stepped from the darkness: Selena, Helena, and the whole royal family.
Last of all, from the shadows at the far end, the Ragaleon himself stepped forward, his presence heavier than the silence that followed him.
Vashi's breath caught in her chest. She turned slowly, eyes darting from one familiar face to another, only to find their gazes sharpened, cold, and predatory.
They had been waiting. Watching.
And now she st
