The Path to War
Sophia stood frozen in Marcus’s room, the note trembling in her hand.
“Forgive me. I have to face him alone.”
Her heart pounded in her chest. She read the words again, hoping they would change. But they didn’t.
Marcus was gone.
“Face who?” she whispered, panic rising inside her.
She rushed outside, the early morning breeze brushing against her skin. The camp was quiet, but something felt wrong. Too quiet.
“Lucian!” she called, running toward the training ground.
Lucian turned, half-dressed, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “Sophia? What’s wrong?”
She shoved the note into his hand. “Marcus is gone. He left this.”
Lucian’s eyes darkened as he read it. “No… he’s going to the Rogue King.”
Sophia’s breath caught. “Why would he go alone? That’s suicide!”
Lucian looked ser
