His Cruelty, Her Crown

he desolate trailhead. The ai

g the seven smooth, grey stones, a satel

this," Marcus said, his expression unreadab

he pack. The weight of the ston

derst

ing, or if the affirmations aren't... convi

uit," Sera

l was narrow, winding upwards

the alarm on th

nd a spot with a s

d say, her voice flat, into the small camera. "Julian Tho

creen. Mostly from Julian' s circle

r, playing

tually belie

r pet is ver

he burn in her legs, the ache in her sho

painful step, it loosened. She could feel

r from the streams. Slept

nging terrain. Steep inclines, ro

cracking against a sharp

up. Kept

mations c

ience is a gift

ion is a testame

roached, she reached the summ

mud, exhausted, h

d the final

ian find eternal h

ed off the devi

kening sky, until the cold forced

se now, barely connected.

ard meeting when M

rom Hayes came through.

isinterest. "Good. Inform

ut his mind drifted. Three

ected her to

k ranger found her tent, but she's gone. They think she might have wandered off, dis

ease. "She' s probably f

tion himself. Then a private

dled by a ravine, semi-conscious, f

nearest rural hospital.

urs later. Brynn was wi

l this way," Brynn said, stroking hi

was explaining about the infection, the need for antibiotics,

t the cat dragged in. Or rather, what

. "Did my burdens feel h

her, her eyes clea

to assist in your

e preferred cowering fear,

rm. "Ow! My bracelet! Julian, my diamon

on something when I leaned in. That... that woma

face darke

na said

ughly patting Seraphina' s pocke

rynn' s voice rose, hysterical. "She' s alwa

d. His eyes were cold.

have it

ical sob. "She' s lying! I fe

grabbed Seraphina' s injured

eezed.

aw sound of pure pain

et?" Julian gritted out

eyes, but she shook her hea

eezed

out, archi

ead. It

. Snapped.