Sacrifice of the Heart

s downpour, soaking the cobb

c intertwined, a lone figure moved swiftly through the shadows. Cloak

seen t

it was

he alley, she raised a trembling hand

d open, revealing a pa

pered, her voice barely audi

door creaked open just eno

thick with the scent of ink, parchment, and some

r faces obscured by hoods. At the center sat a man draped in

murmured, not bo

, pushing back her hood. Her golden eyes gl

pping

breath fille

e King

sitated. "I

hanged glances.

y raised his gaze-and his eyes

it has

ile curle

ophecy move

sting eerie shadows across the stone walls. The air was thick with tension,

ed the woman before him. His unnatural red eyes g

" he asked, his voi

sitated. "No

c tapping against the wooden tabl

pla

King was there. I saw him standing over the King's body, but before

e others at the table remained silent, their hood

een waitin

ith King moves at last..." He traced a finger along the edge

led slowly. "A

wer plea

a physically imposing man, but power radiated from him, suffocating and absolu

spoke, their voice raspy, inhuman.

e smiled.

phecy was their guiding force. But even the Oracle, with

ore speaking again. "The Wraith King... He was suppo

the Oracle's features. "Becau

ned. "You thin

ped to something sharper, colder. "I think he fin

ce fo

d to leave. The others followed, the

moment, her golden eyes r

work... then the wo

over her head and disap

nd the hidden chamber, her heart pounding li

t is yet

oo silent. No drunkards stumbling from the taverns, no beggars lurking

the hidden pathways leading back to the palace grounds. Every step

ift in th

her, blocking the path.

eath h

just a

ma

o the dim torchlight, h

somewhe

s silk laced

e. She had feared

on V

ing's second

s his master-and

gger at her belt, but she stilled

out of your little hiding hole." His gaze flicked toward the chambe

aid n

eyes gleaming like a predator

dropped to something danger

eath c

cle see who

true outcome

would kill her

he only thin

e

nly years of surviving in the underworld had grante

ron was

t five steps befo

k-her hood

ressed again

he murmured ag

tilting her head back just enough for her to

warm against her rain-cooled

er press

see th

ould feel his heartbeat against her back-steady,

would determine if

forced a slow, tauntin

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