บททั้งหมดของ Book One of the Rosewood Trilogy: The Broken Sanctum: บทที่ 81 - บทที่ 90

The Council chambers are never truly quiet.Even in the late hours, whispers move through the marble corridors like restless spirits.I prefer it that way.Silence means nothing is happening.Whispers mean people are talking.And people talking means information.I walk through the halls with measured steps, my hands clasped behind my back in the way my father insists reflects proper bearing.Technically, I belong here.The Talerian crest stretches across the wall beside me—gold wings carved into white stone, polished until they shine beneath the lantern light. My family has held council seats for centuries.Privilege opens doors.Unfortunately, it also exposes rot.I started noticing it years ago.Favors granted to the right families.Rules bent for powerful bloodlines.Positions handed out long before merit was ever considered.The system functions.Just not fairly.My father insists hierarchy is necessary for order.I’m not convinced.A faint current of air brushes my cheek.I foll

The gym felt different at night during break.Quieter.Almost peaceful.Usually there was the low hum of others talking, the sound of weights hitting the floor, or someone sparring in the ring.Tonight there was only the soft creak of metal and the faint hum of the enchantments that kept the place warm.I pushed through the door and stepped inside.The familiar smell of leather, steel, and chalk dust greeted me immediately.Good.Open.I needed to keep working.Flying had been… amazing.But it also meant muscles I’d never used before were now screaming at me every morning.If I wanted to actually control my wings in the air, the rest of my body needed to be stronger too.I stretched my shoulders as I walked toward the training area.A low voice spoke behind me.“You planning on flying laps around the gym too?”I turned.Bastian stood near the weapon racks, leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed.His golden hair was tied back loosely tonight, and the faint lantern ligh

Solstice morning started with laughter.Real laughter.The kind that made my stomach hurt and my cheeks warm.Mel had woken me up before the sun even came up, knocking loudly on my door and announcing that if I didn’t get up immediately she was going to eat the entire feast herself.“You wouldn’t,” I mumbled from under the blankets.“Oh I absolutely would.”By the time I made it downstairs, the kitchen smelled incredible.Honey.Cinnamon.Roasted apples.Mel stood at the counter in one of her older aprons, flour dusting the front of it while she stirred something in a pot.“You’re late,” she announced.“It’s barely morning.”“Solstice waits for no one.”I laughed softly and tied my hair up before joining her.The table slowly filled with food as the morning went on.Fresh breads.Roasted root vegetables.Honey cakes.Herbed potatoes.Two different pastries Mel had insisted on trying this year.And three different teas.“Too much?” she asked at one point.“Definitely.”She grinned.“Go

Three days.Three damn days.That’s how long I lasted before I got bored out of my mind sitting in my mother’s castle pretending to care about demon politics.So I left.The portal flared behind me as I stepped into Thornridge.Cold air hit my face immediately, carrying the familiar scent of snow, wood smoke, and fresh bread.Good.Much better than sulfur and nobles pretending they weren’t plotting to stab each other in the back.My boots carried me down the street without hesitation.I already knew where I was going.The bakery door chimed when I pushed it open.Warm air wrapped around me instantly.Cinnamon.Honey.Butter.Gods I loved this place.Mel stood behind the counter, wiping flour from her hands.She looked up, her eyebrow lifting the moment she saw me.“Well,” she said slowly.“The troublemaker returns.”I grinned.“Miss me?”“Not particularly.”She leaned her elbows on the counter.“What are you doing here, Atlas?”“Looking for Esme.”Her eyes narrowed slightly.“Of cours

I was in a good mood.Which, according to most people who knew me, was a dangerous thing.The walk back to the dorms felt lighter than usual. Snow crunched under my boots as I crossed the academy grounds, hands shoved into the pockets of my jacket.Dinner with Mel and Esme had been… different.Good different.Warm.Loud in the kitchen with laughter and teasing while Mel pretended she wasn’t watching every move I made.Esme had laughed a lot too.Really laughed.The kind that made her shoulders shake and her eyes brighten.I hadn’t expected that.My family dinners usually involved political arguments and someone threatening someone else’s life.So yeah.Warm had been unexpected.I pushed open the dorm door and stepped inside.All three of the guys were already there.Zeke stood near the table with his arms crossed, posture stiff and perfectly controlled as usual.Calyx lounged across one of the chairs like he owned the place.Malachi leaned against the wall, arms folded over his massiv