The next morning dawned heavy with tension, the kind that pressed on the lungs and made each breath feel sharper than it should. The halls of Nightshade Castle bustled with whispers—River’s departure to Queen Alia’s kingdom had spread exactly as she intended.
Servants repeated it. Guards echoed it. Even the courtiers murmured nervously behind fans and scrolls.
Perfect.
If the Dark Witch had spies hidden inside their ranks—and River was certain she did—then the bait was set.
What Heiko did not consider perfect was River being that bait. And he made sure to remind her every single minute leading to their departure.
“River,” he growled under his breath as she stepped into the royal carriage, “this is reckless even by your standards.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s the point. She’ll never
