MasukKaine’s POVMy mind is racing so fast that I can barely cling to a single thought before ten more shove it out of the way. It’s all too loud, too complicated.What the fuck am I supposed to do?Things have never been good between my stepmother and I, but I never dreamed that it would escalate to thi
The chatter in the room grows as everyone stops addressing the King directly and talks among themselves about the Prince. Now that the evidence has been disproven, everyone feels confident enough to voice their doubts based on what they know about Kaine’s personality.My eyes focus on the Queen who,
“Ember?” the King prompts again.I have no idea why he’s putting so much faith in me. I didn’t expect the other guard’s word to matter that much to him, but he asked me for my opinion before the actual Scribe who was assigned the job.It doesn’t feel like I’m a suspect scrambling for survival anymor
The King stares at us, supposedly trying to make up his mind about if he’ll allow it or not. I refuse to look too eager and solidify my expression into a blank one.Before he can speak, there’s another voice that comes from my side. “I’ll vow for her as well!”“And me!”After about twenty guards voi
Royal law states that all matters like inspection must be done in public. So, even though the Court was technically in recess, no one moved a muscle to take a break. Everyone wants to see how this is going to play out.A show for their consumption.The energy in the room was so heavy that it was nea
“Prince Kaine, you truly had no idea of the suspicions of Laramie Bell before he was arrested?” the King asks, doubt lacing his tone.“Truly, Father, My King, I swear to you that I had no idea that Mr. Bell was even under the Crown’s suspicion.”The King opens his mouth to say more, but the Queen in
EmberI am lost in thought as I head toward my station to begin my patrol. So much has happened since I arrived at the palace and I can’t help but feel a little out of my depth with this new assignment. The Queen might be connected to the assassination attempt, and I am supposed to lead the investig
EmberI wake up to a pain in my shoulder as my mark reminds me that I’m running out of time. The pain is dull, nothing like what I experienced the other night, but the frequency of the burning has been increasing at an alarming rate.I need to get more potion before it is too late, and Prince Kaine
The seal on the document is cracked with age, but unmistakable. House Chantarelle. And beneath it, half-faded, is a property address.He frowns. “That’s on the western border. Practically buried.”I nod. “It’s registered to Lord Chantarelle, but it’s hidden beneath a chain of unrelated property tran
EmberI wake the same way I have every morning for the past week to my mark burning. Bile rises to my throat as panic threatens to consume me yet again. I sit up, clutching my shoulder, my chest rising and falling rapidly as awareness of my failure fully sets in.I had been caught. It didn’t matter







