The fog on the balcony had finally dispersed, carrying with it the last whisper of the Witch’s venomous promise. River stood motionless for a long moment, her fingers gripping the cold stone rail as though she could steady her own racing heart through sheer force of will.
Every instinct screamed at her to find Heiko, to confide in him, to unleash the fury of the Nightshade guard across the castle and hunt down the intruder who dared infiltrate the king’s court. But she didn’t.
Not tonight.
The crown weighed heavy on the kingdom already—the death of Thas, the execution of Peter, the naming of a new Crown Prince. And now this ball, a display of power, unity, and stability. If she brought the truth of the Witch here, in this moment, she knew it would unravel everything. Fear would ripple t
