Crown of Betrayal
Her body accepted his nearness as something that belonged.
Briar noticed, of course. She noticed everything. But she said nothing, content to walk between them, laughter easy, presence warm. As they drew closer to Astarte, her excitement grew brighter, more visible, though it was threaded now with something quieter — a tightening behind her smile, a hesitation that surfaced when she thought neither of them were watching.
One evening, as the hills began to rise and the air sharpened, Briar broke the silence. “When we reach the city,” she said lightly, “things are going to get… complicated.”
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