Vincent/Vaelthor~
I rose from my seat with quiet grace, inclining my head to the King and Queen. "Thank you for breakfast," I murmured. "It was… illuminating."
The words hung in the air like a subtle poison, seeping into the cracks I'd just widened in their perfect family facade. Zane's jaw tightened, Natalie's eyes narrowed with that celestial glow flickering at the edges, but neither said a word. Alexander's glare could have scorched stone, and Cassandra's silence was a blade unsheathed. Sebastian, ever the opportunist, just smirked like he was enjoying the show. I turned toward the doorway, feeling the shadows whisper against my skin like a lover's touch, urging me onward.
Behind me, the royal family picked at their fractured morning. Ahead of me, war was already unfolding—quiet, precise, beautiful. And I… was smiling.
