DORIAN'S POVThe first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes the next morning was that Sera wasn't beside me. For a few seconds, I remained still, staring at the empty space where she had slept only hours ago. The blankets were slightly disturbed. The pillow still carried the shape of her head. She hadn't been gone long. At least that was what I told myself. After everything that had happened yesterday, finding the bed empty immediately unsettled me.I sat upright and rubbed a hand across my face. The room felt unusually quiet. Too quiet. Normally, Sera would already be awake by this time, organizing something, reading reports, or complaining about how much work had piled up while she was unconscious. The silence felt wrong. I climbed out of bed and walked toward the window. The palace grounds below had already come alive. Guards moved through their patrol routes.Servants hurried between wings. The palace continued functioning despite the chaos threatening to tear it apart. For a bri
Read more