ive: The

r thoughts crashing against each other like a storm-tossed sea. Every word her parents had spoken

real. It shou

rred. An unfamiliar pulse. A power sh

ll away. But when she lifted her gaze to th

ction had

shimmering in the dim light. And her eyes-they weren't just

kward, her heart

voice was bar

ward, concern etched into every line of

ed. "What do you

w, his face grim, answered.

ange energy crackled through the air, sending a chill down h

AC

n the table shatt

adn't touched it.

stared at the shards on th

ok. One that told her they had

tly. "Ava, listen to me.

Selvina's spies are out there. They've been searching

d up. "Spies? Wha

ened. "They'll c

rocess the full we

ouse. The candles flickered and die

me the

ssing.

Ava tightened.

od turned

a hidden compartment under the f

anic rising. "I-no! I

ove and urgency. "We've protected you for eig

a's palm. "Find Eldrin. He was your mothe

violently. Outside, the whispers turned to inhuman g

atures

open the ba

d night. She wanted to fight. Wanted to stay. But d

she

o the u

ht swallowed the only h

-

n the Kingdo

laughter, the glowing torches-none of it mattered. N

s scanning the forest beyond the kingdom's borders. The wind c

him. Something missi

Selene, stepped forward. "You

harply. "It ha

stiffened.

"This time, I

know the mate bond cannot be forced. Yo

e to the sky, uneas

ps fate will bring her to

wn, he knew-she was already ou

breaking every ru