Book One: Throne of Cinder and Shadow

C H A P T E R O N E: Cambria

Cambria stood at the edge of the cliff, her dark hair whipping about her face in wild strands as the wind rushed in from the sea. The sun was sinking into the horizon, a blazing orb casting the sky in fiery hues of red and orange before it surrendered to the deep indigo of dusk. The waves below crashed relentlessly against the jagged rocks, sending sprays of saltwater into the air, cool against her skin. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the sharp, briny scent of the ocean, as though the sea itself might somehow wash away the heavy weight in her chest.

The kingdom of Greyfall spread out behind her, its shadowed peaks and mist-laden valleys hidden in the fading twilight. It was a land of stone and iron, of ancient forests and unforgiving mountains, a kingdom built on resilience and strength. It was her home, her birthright, yet it had always felt like a cage. The walls of Greyfall Manor, where she had grown up, seemed to close in around her more and more with each passing year, suffocating her beneath the weight of duty and expectation.

A voice broke the silence, soft and tinged with familiar concern. "You'll ruin your gown standing so close to the cliff, Cam."

Cambria didn't turn immediately but let a wry smile tug at her lips. She recognized that voice anywhere. "Does it matter anymore, Cadence? Really?"

Her sister stepped up beside her, as graceful as always. Cadence was everything Cambria was not—her gown flowed around her like water, a delicate blend of pale blue and silver, the colors of their house. Her blonde hair caught the last rays of the sun, glowing like spun gold, a sharp contrast to Cambria's darker features. Where Cambria was quiet and brooding, Cadence radiated warmth and charm, the golden child, the one who could do no wrong.

"You're pensive today," Cadence remarked, her tone light and teasing, though her eyes lingered on Cambria with a hint of worry. "Is it cold feet about the wedding? I can't imagine you're nervous."

Cambria's smile faltered, and she turned her gaze back to the sea. The wedding. The thought of it tightened the knot in her stomach. Her entire future—decided without her, planned and executed like a battle strategy. She was to marry High Prince Marek, the heir to the throne of Aralhedae. It was a union that would strengthen alliances, solidify power between their houses. Her life, her choices, none of it had ever been her own. "Nervous? No. I don't know what to feel anymore."

Cadence's playful demeanor softened, though she remained untroubled, as always. "It's not as if you're being sent to marry some vile creature from the underworld. Marek is—well, he's a prince. And handsome, by all accounts. You could have done much worse."

Cambria sighed, her fingers curling into the rough stone of the cliff edge. "It's not about Marek. It's not even about the wedding, really. It's the whole thing. Do you ever wonder, Cadence, if we should have had some say in all of this? In any of this?"

Cadence tilted her head, her blonde curls spilling over her shoulder as she regarded her sister with a faint smile. "Say? You know that's not how it works, Cam. We don't get to choose. Not in this life. It's our duty to Father, to Greyfall, to our house. Besides, there are far worse fates than marrying a prince." She paused, her voice softening with a touch of sympathy. "I know it's hard for you, always dreaming of...more. But dreams won't keep us safe. This is the world we were born into. We must play our parts."

Cambria's jaw clenched. She hated how practical Cadence always was, how easily she accepted their lot. "Maybe I don't want to play my part. Maybe I don't want this life."

Cadence's smile faded, and for a moment, they stood in silence, watching the waves far below. "You've always been the one who wanted more," Cadence said quietly, her voice carrying an undercurrent of affection. "I admire that about you, but it won't change what's coming. We can't run from who we are."

Cambria stared at the horizon, her heart heavy with the truth of her sister's words. The last sliver of the sun sank beneath the waves, casting the sky in deep purples and golds. Somewhere, beyond that endless expanse of sea, was a world she would never know—a world where she might have been free. But freedom was a luxury reserved for others, not for the daughter of Lord Sadon Grey, not for the future bride of Aralhedae's prince.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Cadence asked, her tone shifting, light once again as she tried to ease the tension. "The long journey to Aralhedae, the royal court, the grand balls? You'll meet your future husband, after all."

Cambria closed her eyes for a brief moment, fighting the surge of anxiety that rose in her chest. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Cadence laughed, a sound like music on the wind. "You say that as if you're being marched to your execution, not your wedding. Cheer up, Cam. You're going to be a princess!"

A princess. The word felt hollow in Cambria's mind, like a title that didn't belong to her. "It feels more like the end of something," she muttered, barely loud enough for Cadence to hear. "The end of...me."

Cadence's expression softened, but she didn't press further. Instead, she slipped her arm through Cambria's, pulling her gently away from the edge. "Come on. We should go back. Father will be waiting."

The distant sound of bells echoed from Greyfall Manor, their soft chimes signaling the approach of night. Cambria cast one last glance at the sea, the dark waves rolling endlessly toward the shore. There was something out there—something she longed for, something just out of reach. But it was a world she would never see, a life she would never have.

With a final sigh, she turned her back on the sea, letting Cadence lead her toward the manor and the duties that awaited her. The night was creeping in, and with it, her future—a future she had no choice but to embrace.