Aeliana's POV"They were real people," I said quietly as Mara's stories finally wound down. "Not just monarchs or legends. They were people who loved each other, who loved me, who had flaws and quirks and normal moments between the royal duties.""They were exactly that," Mara agreed. "And when we rescue them, when you finally meet them again, you'll see all of that. They might be changed by what they've endured and might need time to heal. But underneath the trauma, they're still the same people who loved you enough to sacrifice everything to keep you safe.""I won't let them down," I said fiercely. "We're going to get them out of that facility. We're going to bring them home. And then..." I paused, not sure how to finish the thought."Then you'll have time to be a family again," Mara finished gently. "Time to learn who they are now, who you've become. Time to build new memories to replace the ones that were stolen."Dawn was breaking outside the windows, painting the sky in shades o
Last Updated : 2026-01-08 Read more