All Chapters of Kindle: Chapter 21 - Chapter 23

BailaThe night air was sharp, carrying a faint chill that made me pull my cloak tighter around me as Sara and I trudged back toward the castle. The streets were unusually quiet, the usual murmur of voices and clatter of hooves replaced by an eerie stillness and the shadows seemed to stretch longer than usual. I kept glancing over my shoulder, the unease from Salem’s prophecy still prickling at the edges of my mind like a splinter too deep to pull out. The words rang in my ears, fragments of their meaning slipping through my grasp no matter how hard I tried to piece them together.A lying mate. A backstabbing friend. A foe turned friend.Sara walked briskly ahead, her green dress swishing against her legs, her shoulders stiff and head bowed low. She had not uttered a word since I told her about Salem being a witch. She had not asked me how I found out or what proof I had and I had not offered an explanation either.In fact, I was relieved by her silence no matter how uncomfortable it

BailaSara left as soon as she had come.Apparently, there was an urgent matter that required her presence.The door clicked shut behind Sara, leaving me alone with the three maids and the heavy silence that followed.My room, usually a place of solace, now felt suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in.The flickering candlelight cast elongated shadows that danced across the stone walls, turning them into silent specters bearing witness to my turmoil.I swallowed the fear in my throat.If I wanted to survive, winning the bride trials was my only option.The gowns the maids carried were a riot of colors—deep crimson, sapphire blue, emerald green, and gold that shimmered like captured sunlight.Their fabrics cascaded like waterfalls, pooling onto the cold floor, a stark contrast against the rough stone. I reached out hesitantly, my fingers brushing against the silk and velvet. The cool, smooth textures sent shivers up my spine, reminding me of the weight of the decision I