Blood and desire

as's

t have gone

reath steady despite the unease curling in my gut. Isolde had left the throne room without a word, her face as

Var

was a curse u

rebellions beneath his heel and burned entire villages in the name of my father's reign. He was no

lde was to b

ad no name. I had stood by my father's side in war, had carried out his will without hesit

s my s

was

had been abandoned for years, left to dust and ghosts after my mother's execution. I had not set foot here since childhood, since t

erstood al

corner, and

d in her hands. Her shoulders were tense, her breath uneven, and the flickering tor

ot hear m

e was reading it again, her lips parted, her brows drawn together, her knuckles white where

nted to

d slowly

he depths of a dream or a nightmare. Her head snapped up, her wide eyes

en years since I

felt as though not a si

ne of her throat. She had changed. Grown into something poised, something untouchable, s

es they we

Reckless.

than a whisper, but the sound of

, closing the space between

r chin.Neithe

alle

had not

was not quite a smile. You were alw

ver. And you were a

understanding, an old, unspoken truth that had no

membering it was there. I caught the movement, th

that?

hesi

nt too

all the ans

me went sti

but she did not look away.I found

t have to

oth

, not forcing. But she understood me well

, she placed the pa

ng the faded ink, my pulse po

dline is

ng chill settl

again. A

something darker, something that did

hat had consumed this kingdom. Of th

t had always lurk

quiet, but unshaken

ard, my throa

, that our mother di

my gaze

t we were never