She had stolen war plans from generals, smuggled letters meant for kings, uncovered treason before it could take root.
She had … poisoned people.
Each mission shattered another piece of her soul.
Each time she returned to the palace, she felt less human.
Her mother begged her to run.
"You will lose yourself in this, Raya."
"Please. Leave me. Save yourself. For me, it is too late... but for you my dear... there is still time. Please..."
But Raya could never leave her mother behind.
Even as the darkness consumed her, even as she became the monster the king had molded her into, she could not abandon the woman who had given her life.
And then came her last mission.
The order that changed everything… again.
She was to replace Princess Dhalia.
The real Dhalia.
The princess had been
