en'

lent walls. There was an emptiness here now, a hollow reminder of what this place had

ay people watched me now, from behind closed do

ow saw something darker. To them, I was a hidden danger lurking in

se anticipation. The Elites are pure-blooded Serakyns. They represent the upper and ruling class of t

r. Despite my status as a powerful and dangerous figure, I felt completely out of pla

eir eyes, their suspicions cackling, and a twisted knot of anger and betrayal tightened in my chest. I tried to silence t

ow scheming to take over a throne that never belonged to me in the first pl

as a potential usurper and I could sense their hatred deepe

he wouldn't betray me. I wanted to reach out, to tell her everything. But trust was a

to avoid the prying eyes of those who might pass by. The whispers had followed me through the citadel all day, and I was starting to feel the weight of every gla

a soft voice

en. W

though she didn't want to draw any more attention to us than we already had. She gave a quick glanc

ssion unreadable. But in her eyes, I could see someth

now what they're saying but you do

, feeling a mix of f

at me like...like I'm something dangerou

r head, step

all. And when people don't understand, they fear. But you're not

er than anyone he

king through the cold, hardened resolve I'd been clutching onto. I looked d

and compassionate in a way that made me feel

ce rougher than I intended. ''Sometime

. ''You can trust me. No mat

softness there, a quiet compassion

ispered about, but just...me. Her acceptance, her belief in who I was, was something I'd held ont

here was so much she didn't know.... about my past, about who I r

smile. ''I hope that's true, Za

s searching mine as if she s

hange.'' Her words were quiet but firm, a

he wrapped her hands around me, lingering there for a short while. I

the only home I'd ever known. Every familiar sight, every hidden place I passed brought back memories, but

see the flicker of distrust in their eyes and, hear the murmurs under their breat

et that part of me had always marked me different. They feared my streng

I turned back, one last glance at the citadel. The life I'd known was over.

n within me. This world wanted me gone, feared what I might do, what I might

ain but for the first time