The next evening, in the royal palace.
The chamber was dim, lit only by the faint glow of the sinking sun that slanted through the tall windows.
Shadows clung to the corners like silent sentinels, and in the center, Jake lay unmoving on a wide bed, his chest rising and falling faintly.
Raven sat in a chair beside him, elbows on his knees, hands clasped loosely.
The shadows seemed to bend toward him, like even the darkness acknowledged the weight he carried.
But he wasn't alone, as Selena sat opposite, her expression calm, almost smug, but her blue eyes softened whenever they strayed toward Jake's still form.
Then there was Velric.
He stood before them, stiff and pale, his fingers twitching as though he wanted to wring them but knew better than to fidget under Raven's gaze.
His crown gleamed faintly, but to Raven, it looked more like a shackle than a symbol.
