“What are you talking about?” Ambrose spat, leaning forward in his chair. His full attention now on the dark Lord, who was smiling like a Cheshire cat.It wasn’t entirely an act, when Sephora’s eyebrows furrowed, looking confused at Vince. What did he mean by surrender? He said nothing in their plan about wanting Ambrose to surrender. Surely all he had to do, was wait for Sephora to find him a route to the veil-stones. For Vince to be asking for a surrender, would mean-“What is he talking about?” Ambrose whirled upon Sephora, his green eyes flashing with confusion and wrath.Sephora almost trembled at the anger in his voice, but she could only shake her head, “I – I don’t know.”She turned her head to Vince, who seemed to be enjoying their confusion. Ravyn had gone silent over in the corner, and was now staring at Sephora wide-eyed, no doubt suspecting the worst. Even Joe now looked to Sephora, his dark eyes questioning. But Sephora didn't dare say a word, not when she could possibly

Sephora's breathing was ragged, her throat burning as hot as the flames around her, from her screaming. That's right. Flames, fire. Engulfing her, surrounding her, protecting her - as Vince continued to gape at her from over the other side of the throne room. Where he'd been blasted back from the sheer force of her explosion.Sephora was trembling, trembling from fear and horror. Fear at her Soulborn power, that was now turning the floor and walls around her, into a glowing molten ore. Fear at the dark Lord before her, who could still strike back at her at anytime with that darkness. That terrifying, hideous darkness, that held her back, that had chained her to the wall while he...Her knees buckled from beneath her, just as a whirl of shadows speared into the room, from the corner of Sephora's vision. She waited for the shadows to hit her, to hold her down - to stifle her flames. But nothing happened, Sephora forced herself to stand upright, despite her legs feeling like someone had

Ravyn's eyes burned with their own fire now, as she swung her legs off the chair to lean forward across the table, to put down her tea. "You were not the one who let Vince's armies into Ambrose's lands - so stop blaming yourself. You were not the one to build up Vince's armies in order to start a war - so stop blaming yourself. And you were not the one who accepted Vince's invitation to come to the palace, he didn't have to come - so you need to stop blaming yourself."Tears were now streaming down Sephora's face once again. Tears of relief, because everything Ravyn was saying was true. She should stop blaming herself - she was just a pawn in another's game. She was of little consequence, in comparison to what Vince had been planning for years. She didn't realise how much guilt she'd been carrying, until it finally lifted off her in that moment. All thanks to the Shadow's belief in her.Ravyn got up from her chair to crouch before Sephora, her hands braced on Sephora's knees - and for

Sephora slowly walked down the marble hallways leading to Ambrose's study. She may have taken the slightly longer route up to the second floor of the palace, and may have stared out of more than one window on the way down. It was as though all the confidence she had down in the breakfast room, had been drained away and now she was a dawdling nervous wreck. She had no idea what she was going to say to him. None. What do you say to your mate after you've been avoiding him for a week, betrayed his trust, and flinched away from him after being forced upon by his greatest rival?Sephora only hoped the words would find her once she made it to Ambrose's study. But that wasn't the only thing Sephora was worrying about. Ambrose hadn't attended a single one of his council meetings, and after her not leaving her bedchamber for the whole week. His people must feel completely abandoned, and right after they'd just suffered losses from Vince's attack on the veil-stones. Sephora realised they both n

Sephora couldn't hold back her smile, as she silently walked away from the door. She held in her laugh, as she made her way through the passageways that took her round the back and to the second entrance of the council chambers. She peeked round the door and smiled, she was almost directly behind him. She slipped into the council chambers, her bare feet silent as the cold stone floor caused her to mutely gasp. She glanced in alarm to Ambrose, who still hadn't shifted from gazing at the document. Sephora waited until she was directly behind him, until she could hear his deep breathes in and out.She bit her lip again to keep from laughing, just as she brought her hands down to suddenly grasp his arms, "Rahh!"Ambrose swore and jumped from his seat with such speed, he in turn startled Sephora. Panting hard and his face now slack with shock, Sephora could no longer hold it together, and erupted into laughter. Loud stomach aching laughter, that had her leaning against the back wall, tears