[Silthara Palace — Grand Hallway — Later]
The palace corridors had grown unusually quiet, even the attendants walked with lowered voices. The weight of war hung over every corner of Silthara.
Zeramet walked alone through the endless hallway, his silver robes swept across the polished marble floor and his thoughts refused to settle.
"I cannot let anything happen to my consort..."
He closed his eyes briefly.
"No matter what."
His fingers unconsciously brushed against the bracelet resting around his wrist. A bracelet made of iridescent stones. Each stone shimmered with every color beneath the palace lights.
The legendary relic of House Veyrhold.
Forged from the crystallized essence left behind after the death of the Sun-Devouring Dragon, atreasure passed through generations, until Levin had placed it into Zeramet's hands on the night they became husband and husband.
His wedding gift. Zeramet stared at it quietly.
