LOGINFINN'S POV I studied his face, trying to determine whether he was hiding something from me again, but I knew I would not get any further answers by standing in the middle of the room arguing with him."Fine. But if you discover anything that concerns me, you tell me immediately.""I will."Seraphina approached us with the small box that contained the message from Master Orin."Take this with you," she told Dylan. "If the king's men search this building, I cannot guarantee that they won't find the other records, but they will not find what they are looking for here."Dylan accepted the box and slipped it inside his coat."What about you?""I will remain here and make sure the others have enough time to leave.""That is too dangerous."She gave him a firm look."I have survived eleven years under Ryan's rule. I know how to take care of myself."Dylan seemed reluctant to argue, but he finally nodded before opening the door.We followed the narrow corridor towards the rear of the buildin
FINN'S POV I thought about the mirror in my room and the way I had found myself on the other side of it. I remembered the first time I had seen Ryan in Drakoria, how familiar his face had looked despite the fact that I had never met him before arriving in this world.I had spent so much time trying to find a way home that I had barely considered why I had ended up here in the first place."Are you saying I came here through some kind of boundary between worlds?" I asked."We believe that is possible," Seraphina replied. "But we don't know how it happened, and we don't know why you arrived when you did.""Then how am I supposed to help you?"Aldric leaned forward, resting both hands on the table."Because Ryan has been searching for something connected to those records for years. He has sent people to investigate old ruins, ordered the royal archives to be searched, and had anyone who questioned his interest removed from their positions. Whatever he wants, he believes it will give him
FINN'S POVAldric leaned forward, resting both hands on the table."Because Ryan has been searching for something connected to those records for years. He has sent people to investigate old ruins, ordered the royal archives to be searched, and had anyone who questioned his interest removed from their positions. Whatever he wants, he believes it will give him something he does not already possess.""And you think that thing is me?""We think your arrival may be connected to what he is searching for."I looked towards Dylan, hoping he would tell me that the others were wrong, but he remained silent."You brought me here knowing they would say this?""I suspected they might," he admitted. "But I didn't know what they had discovered about the symbol or the sealed passage."I folded my arms."You should have told me that before we came here.""You're right. I should have."His willingness to admit it left me with nothing to say for a moment. I was still angry, but at least he wasn't preten
FINN'S POVBesides, Dylan had mentioned the old warning book before, and I still had no explanation for the strange things I had discovered in it."Fine," I said eventually. "I'll go to your meeting, but I have conditions."Dylan raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening.""First, you tell me the truth about anything that concerns me. I don't expect you to explain every secret in this kingdom, but if you know something about why I am here, I want to hear it. Second, I am not going to help you fight Ryan simply because you don't like the way he rules. If you want my help, you will have to give me a reason to believe what you are doing is right."He considered my words before nodding."Those are fair conditions.""And third, if I feel that anyone in that room is planning to use me, I am leaving.""Agreed."I watched him carefully. "You agreed rather quickly.""Would you prefer that I argue with you?""No, but I am beginning to think you have a habit of telling people exactly what they want to h
FINN'S POVWhen Ryan finally emerged, he looked satisfied with himself. Father followed him a few moments later, speaking to one of the advisers before turning towards his private quarters.I approached Ryan as soon as the corridor was clear."How did it go?""Father accepted my report."I smiled. "That's good.""Yes, it is."For a brief moment, I thought we might finally have something to celebrate together. Then I noticed the small document in his hand, bearing the seal of one of the northern families."What's that?" I asked.Ryan glanced down at it before slipping it inside his coat."Nothing you need to worry about."I studied him carefully. "Is everything all right?""Everything is fine.""Then why do you keep saying that I don't need to know anything?"His expression changed, and I realized I had finally asked a question he did not want to answer."Because you don't, Dylan.""I'm your brother.""And you are Father's favorite."I went still.Ryan looked at me with an anger that s
FINN'S POVI waited for Ryan to return from the northern territories, hoping that the journey would give him enough time to think about everything that had happened between us. I knew he was still angry with Father, and I understood that he wanted to prove himself, but I believed there was a difference between wanting to be respected and shutting everyone out of your life.For the first few days, I asked the guards if they had received any messages from him. They told me that the prince was doing well and that the royal party had visited several villages without encountering any serious problems. Their answers relieved me, but they did little to settle the strange feeling that had followed me since the night I overheard Ryan speaking with the silver-haired official.I wanted to know what they had discussed, but I had promised Ryan that I would not tell anyone about the meeting. Even when Father asked me whether I had noticed anything unusual about my brother recently, I said I had not







