Mary Ann’s POV
The letter remained open on my desk long after I finished reading it.
You deserve to hear the truth from the woman he chose.
The words felt deliberate.
Cruel.
Velvera had not written that she wanted to explain herself. She had not apologized or asked for peace. She wanted to remind me that Modric had chosen her.
The abandoned chapel beyond the western ridge was outside Ironclaw’s protected grounds. It sat near neutral territory, surrounded by forest and old trading paths.
A perfect place for an ambush.
I read the message again.
Come alone if you want answers without Modric’s lies.
The dark green wax lay broken beside the envelope.
My mind returned immediately to Elder Mira’s description of the woman near the festival. A figure in a dark green cloak.
The color cou
