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 sat at the long oak table in Lord Fergus's castle, my head resting in my hand, leaning heavily on my elbow as the voices around me grew louder. Commander Sergey and Lord Fergus were at it again, bickering like children over something I couldn't care less about at this point. My patience was hanging by a thread, and my head was starting to throb, whether from the lingering effects of the liquor or from their arguing; I wasn't sure.
Kelvin sat next to me, shoulders shaking slightly as he tried to suppress his laughter. He found it amusing that his father and Lord Fergus had been bickering for over an hour.
"It wasn't my fault the council was dissolved!" Lord Fergus barked, his hand slamming onto the table with a dull thud. "The vote for a new monarch was tied, and if anyone's to blame, it's that snake, Nilsen."
I rolled my eyes, suppressing a groan. Of course, it was always someone else's fault. I shifted in my seat, trying to focus, but the back and forth was wearing me down. The firelight flickered across Fergus's face as he scowled, clearly enjoying the sound of his own voice.
"If the council's divided," Fergus continued, "then the rebellion is divided and then there is no point!"
Commander Sergey bristled, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "The council's division is exactly why Aurora ran off in the first place! While Luca and I were away, Nilsen was too busy playing king instead of keeping order."
I winced at the mention of my name, feeling all eyes flicker toward me briefly. Like I was some sort of rogue agent causing trouble wherever I went. I wasn't even sure why I was here; it felt like they were arguing over things I couldn't change, decisions they wouldn't even let me be a part of.
The door to the meeting hall creaked open, and in walked Nilsen, looking smug as always, followed by Richard and the rest of the former council members. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Nigel, of all people, trailing behind them. What was he doing here?
Luca, my half-brother and the so-called Lord Protector, strode in behind them, his presence commanding as always. His eyes swept the room, and I knew, even before he opened his mouth, that he was about to order me to leave.
"Everyone, sit down," Luca said, his voice calm but firm. Then his gaze landed on me, and I could see the weariness in his eyes. "Aurora, I need you to step outside. Now."
"What? No." I straightened up, the tension in my body rising as my heart raced. I wasn't about to be shoved aside, not now. "I want to stay. I have a right to know what's going on—my baby—"
"You're not in a position to be part of this discussion," Luca cut in, though his tone wasn't as harsh as I expected. "Aurora, you need to—"
"No!" The word came out more forcefully than I intended, but I didn't care. I had been sidelined enough, kept in the dark enough. "I want my baby back, and I want to be part of these decisions."
