All Chapters of Sacrifice Of The Heart: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The moon hung heavy over the kingdom, its silver glow casting jagged shadows over the marble halls of the palace. The weight of prophecy pressed against Elara’s chest as she stood before the gilded mirror in her chambers, tracing the bruises that Vesper’s grip had left on her wrist. It wasn’t anger that had fueled his touch—it was desperation. A silent, burning need to hold on before everything unraveled. But unraveling was inevitable. A soft knock at the door made her stiffen. She knew who it was before he even spoke. “Elara,” Vesper’s voice was low, controlled, yet laced with an urgency she had never heard before. “We need to talk.” She hesitated for only a second before opening the door. The moment he stepped inside, the air between them thickened, electric with unspoken words. He was still dressed in his signature dark coat, its edges lined with enchanted embroidery that shimmered when he moved. “You lied to me.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. Vesper exhaled shar

Elara’s pulse pounded as she met Vesper’s piercing gaze. His golden eyes were unreadable, yet the tension between them crackled like a storm about to break.How much does he know?She steadied her breath, forcing calm into her voice. “What are you talking about?”Vesper took a slow step forward, his presence swallowing the space between them. “Don’t play coy, Elara. I followed the magic trail. You weren’t alone just now.”Her fingers tightened around the spectral dagger hidden in the folds of her cloak. A lie would only dig her deeper into the pit, but the truth? That could shatter everything.She lifted her chin. “I was gathering information.”Vesper’s lips curled into something cold and knowing. “From the Wraith King?”Elara’s heart stilled. He knows.Her mind raced. If she admitted too much, he might see her as a traitor. But if she denied it outright, he would tear through her defenses like a blade through silk.She exhaled sharply. “Yes.”His gaze darkened, but he didn’t lash out

The fire crackled in the dimly lit cavern, its glow casting flickering shadows against the cold stone walls. Elara sat close to the flames, arms wrapped around herself as she tried to shake the lingering chill of the Wraith King’s presence. Even now, she could feel the echo of his voice in her mind, a dark whisper promising her doom.Vesper stood a few feet away, sharpening his dagger with slow, deliberate strokes. The tension between them was thick, an unspoken battle of wills. He hadn’t let go of her since the episode in the ravine, and while part of her wanted to pull away, another part of her—one she wasn’t ready to admit—found comfort in his nearness.“You need to rest,” he said finally, his voice rough.Elara glanced at him. “I doubt sleep will come easily.”Vesper sheathed his dagger and turned to face her. “Then let’s talk about our next move.”She exhaled sharply, shifting her gaze to the fire. “You said we need to kill him. But how? He’s not just a man, Vesper. He’s somethin

The castle loomed in the distance, its spires silhouetted against the deep purple of the evening sky. A storm was gathering—not of wind and rain, but of something far more dangerous.Elara stood at the edge of the cliffside balcony, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Below, the city pulsed with life, oblivious to the war that was about to unfold.Behind her, Vesper stirred. “You’re quiet,” he murmured, stepping closer. His presence was a steadying force, warm and solid despite the wounds he still carried.Elara exhaled. “I was just thinking about how everything is about to change.”He touched her arm, gently turning her to face him. “It already has.”His eyes—stormy and intense—searched hers for something unspoken. There was no fear in them, only certainty.They were in this together.Aerin’s voice cut through the air. “If we’re doing this, we don’t have time for hesitation.” He entered the room, his usual cold demeanor edged with something sharper—urgency.Elara turned to him. “H

The journey back to the hidden outpost was silent, tense, and heavy with unspoken thoughts. Elara rode ahead with Aerin, while Vesper trailed behind them, his gaze dark and unreadable. The encounter with the wraith had changed everything.One must die for the other to thrive.The words repeated in Elara’s mind, a curse that wrapped around her throat like a noose.She had spent her life resisting the forces that tried to control her—her father’s rule, the expectations of her lineage, the magic that dictated her fate. But now, fate had given her an ultimatum.And she had no idea how to fight it.By the time they reached the outpost—a hidden fortress carved into the mountainside—Elara barely noticed the guards greeting them or the worried glances exchanged among the rebels.Aerin dismounted first, his sharp gaze flicking between her and Vesper. “We need to talk. All of us.”Vesper swung off his horse, jaw clenched. “Agreed.”Elara hesitated, then nodded. No more avoiding the truth.⸻Ins