In a land where power and deception reign supreme, two unlikely heroes find their fates intertwined in a battle against a malevolent force.
Kelvin, a daring thief, gets caught in a perilous mission to steal a prized horse, only to discover that his...
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I came to slowly, my head pounding and mouth dry, with a dull ache in my wrists where rough cords bit into my skin. Blinking against the darkness, I realized my arms were pulled back around the trunk of a massive tree.
Why? Why in God's name was I tied up?
I lifted my head, trying to make sense of the figures before me. Luca and Vladimir stood a few paces away, their expressions unreadable, though their eyes were fixed squarely on me. Their silence seemed to press in on me, thick and uneasy. It was as if they were waiting for something. Waiting for me to remember.
And just like that, the memory slammed into me, vivid and unbidden.
I'd been on horseback, gripping the reins as we rode through the dense woods. We were on our way to the northern mountains to find Ben. The ground was uneven, the path narrow, but I kept my focus, ears half-tuned to Luca and Vladimir, who were whispering in low tones behind me.
"Tell me you've thought this through," Vladimir's voice had a sharpness that cut through the rustle of leaves, forcing my attention on him, though I didn't dare turn around. "The Brotherhood might accept you leading. But a Queen?"
"Empress, technically," Luca had murmured back.
I was surprised, Aurora, as queen? I could feel my chest tighten at the thought. The notion of Luca stepping back, ceding power to her, hadn't crossed my mind.
Would she turn that down? What does this mean for me?
I don't think the Brotherhood would—"
"I'm a true bastard, Vlad. My father might have declared her a bastard, but Aurora's blue-blooded through and through. So is Nicolas, my nephew, descended from my father, and Kelvin's mother, a former princess. She already has a secure family and heir; it would be perfect! Besides, I've never wanted my father's throne; she's got the bloodline. Not me."
The silence that followed felt thick enough to drown in. My grip on the reins tightened as I processed what they were saying.
Finally, Vladimir's voice had cut in again, almost a whisper.
"But with her... history... you know she's not exactly stable. What if the Brotherhood decides she's more a threat than a leader?"
"It's exactly her passion that will save this Kingdom! And they'll follow her because I will. She's the one who can unite us; deep down, you know it too."
I couldn't stop myself—I glanced back, meeting their eyes. Luca's jaw had tightened as he realized I'd heard every word. Vladimir's face had gone pale as he looked away, realizing they'd said far too much. I wasn't supposed to know.
The memory faded, slipping from my grasp, leaving me bound to this tree with Luca and Vladimir still staring me down as if I was a threat.
"Hey, guys... what's up?" I managed, trying to mask my confusion. Vladimir crouched down his face like stone.
