A kingdom between us

oing with the tension that weighed heavy between the kingdoms. A long oval tabl

al realm. His eyes, ever sharp, scanned the room. He was no stranger to p

he wal

ar

r of Queen Seraphine. Shield

threads of gold shimmering like sunlight on the sea. Her chin held

em from the ball

t the girl in

n, her guards trailing be

anged between delegates. But every glance between Kael and Elara was

nsel not with pleasantries, but with truth. A blade was drawn at th

invitations. Perhaps the Eldoria's should investigate between its o

n's name in his mouth. Oh you said she sends invitations? T

lied. "Accusations do not make facts. Besides, sending

hamber, Kael's eyes meet El

ith fire while her kingdom hides

et us not turn this into a battlefiel

ke my leave." Kael stood up and everyb

n noble, signaled E

clared the mee

ey shaked hands-a symbolic ges

anythi

-

ith Kael, he wasn

f hedges and flowering moon blossoms. Neither of them said a

ara broke t

et every glance sc

to. You know why he died with

them. You know nothing about what it means to carry loyalty and doubt

mong those who saw me as filth. I've carried blad

u do know." She

d

hing my mother does

a man to kill me. That leaves

ard him, sharply. "And

"But I don't kn

you're the darling of prophecy,

ve seen enough bloodshed to know how kingdoms f

You talk of pride like y

I am," he said. "I had to earn my name

You think standing beside a queen who values pow

pau

voice-he wasn'

not here to debate my mother's heart. I'm here to speak for my p

ned. "Then we're

oice a whisper. "We're something wors

ared

id tha

-

ls drifting around them like whispers. Kael fold

d a brow.

ter. And far mo

all, reluctant

ruthless," she said. "

nd

ss. But there's

ed his he

iness like a sword. Like if you

had ever said something like

with a shrug. "Everyo

Some of us ca

pa

others carry truths t

eyes

nger-but something unnamed. Something that t

e you afraid to say, Elara

ly. "That you don't f

heart s

tly-not harshly, not like a warrior. Like a man unsur

la

rned,

is," he said, voice low.

e stre

ither," she admitted. "But

act, the moment thick with e

th

s echoed

Princess Elara! The carriage is re

pell

back, but somethin

Want. Co

go," she s

ough everything in h

ve, she paused. "Tel

es

world... would you have

out hesitation.

nked, s

she

soms, the warmth of her fingers sti

ow what woul

he feared it wouldn't

uld b

er thi

-