The Ash Queen’s castle felt alive, but not in a welcoming way. Every corridor, every staircase, every shadow seemed to watch us as we moved through the darkened halls. Despite the firelight flickering against the blackened stone, the place was cold. Not the kind of cold that bites the skin, but the kind that presses on your chest, like the walls themselves weigh down on you.
Elias walked beside me, quiet, his usual energy muted. I could tell he was running on exhaustion, the kind that comes from keeping your body moving when your mind screams for rest. I wasn’t much better. My muscles ached, and the lingering taste of smoke and blood from our last encounter made every breath heavy.
The Ash Queen led us to our chambers, her steps measured and deliberate. “You both need rest.” She said sim
