BOUND TO THE WRONG FLAME

woke to silence

ce was t

ts. No rustle of servants

ng had

ic floor. Her chambers, though lavish, felt less like a bridal suite

remained where he had

eat

urned at

wning. There were no bir

r. A sigil. Curved lines encircling a hollow center. She had seen i

of the

umbled

onged to the old bloodlines-those who could contr

ess

sn't just a

was something

of the training fields

les slick with dew and discipline. Kaidun watched from the far steps, sp

by

oot and bare-armed, and gr

d at the nearest

a brow. "You're

. "Not yours. Not a

er grinne

taves c

but holding her ground. Her instincts were

she f

under

e

n, her palm flared-and the s

er. The fight stopped. A

burning staff. It h

idun watching her now.

curio

ething

gnit

uniria, Seraya was summo

n't a

ere fate was first written-the place where high priests read the a

as e

in green robes and

riestess said without turning. "And

owed. "You s

r voice grew sharper. "You should not be here. And yet...

a step forwar

I see... fire. Two flame

hat mean?" S

tess did

olded parchment, sealed with w

e. Not even your husba

uld speak again,

estess

lsed in her hand

-

tunnel lit by glowing moss. Two guards said noth

waited

said. "No

arms. "Took yo

you set fire to a

our plan? Put me in dang

ectly. Instead, he stepp

at. Not without a catalyst. Not without traini

ed at him.

w tigh

he continued. "Burned to ash

ped. "Not wiped out

ounded. "Are you

are," he said. "But I k

"What do you

why the gods swi

the far corner of her chamber and b

ge inside

When the second moon rises, follow the flame to the

s breat

gers tr

ink until the ca

the parchment

ow as the second moon-Ilva-rose red

t p

ath her skin.

darkness, "Seraya...

carried n

oth sisters shimmered

ealm, old sigils began to glow

had not mad

ade a co

orm was fa