The next morning was entirely different. There were neither the birds' chirping nor the innocent quiet of a breakfast. The peace of the table in the garden was behind us now, and a door to a wholly different world had opened before me.
I found myself inside the teleportation hall of the capital just as the sun reached the zenith.
Veytharis.
The capital of Duke Demetrius. Its stone towers thrust into the sky, their navy and gold filigree proclaiming both the city's wealth and its grandeur. The runic patterns that lined the streets made even the domes reaching heavenward seem alive, their thin lines glittering with every step. When I stepped out of the teleportation chamber, sparks from the enchanted stones still tingled on my skin.
I drew a deep breath before plunging into the city's bustle. Everything here was brighter, larger, and yet more dangerous. This was the very heart of my father's rule of the magnificent Duke, who had never officially acknowledged me as his son.
