جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 120

CAMILLA’S P.O.VThe knock at the door disrupted the quiet of our room. Ryker got up to answer it, and I watched as he exchanged a few words with someone outside. When he returned, his expression was neutral, though I could tell something was off.“What’s going on?” I asked, still feeling a bit groggy.“It was Alara,” he said, a slight shrug of his shoulders. “She was lost, wand wandered too far from the main halls. I told her to ask a guard for directions.”I blinked, trying to shake the remnants of sleep from my mind. "Where are you going?" he asked, his eyes searching mine for any hint of what I might be planning.I didn’t hesitate. “Training,” I replied, knowing the routine well. “I might as well get it over with.”His hesitation was palpable, but he said nothing, allowing me to pass him and head toward the training grounds. Loris was already seated when I arrived, tapping his foot impatiently, his eyes narrowing when he saw me.“Well, well, your Majesty,” he said with a dry chuckl

CAMILLA'S POVI had been holed up in my office for hours, the walls closing in on me. The air was thick, heavy with the weight of too many thoughts. As the evening sun began to dip low, I couldn't bear the stillness any longer. I stood up, stretching my stiff limbs, and decided to step outside, hoping the cool evening air would clear my mind.The garden was peaceful, bathed in the soft glow of twilight. But I hadn’t expected to find Ryker there. He was sitting in front of the fountain, staring into the water as if lost in his own world. The moment he saw me, he looked up, his face lighting up with a smile that made my heart ache. Without a word, he gestured for me to come closer. As soon as I reached him, he pulled me into the space beside him, tucking me under his arm."We shouldn’t be out here," I whispered, glancing around. The thought of someone seeing us made me uneasy, but Ryker just shrugged, his calm demeanor unshaken."We have a direct path to the woods," he said casually, "T

RYKER’S P.O.V.Camilla had just finished getting ready, and we were preparing to take Audrey to her new school. My thoughts were swirling, mostly about the safety of my daughter in this unknown environment. The school was simple in appearance—two stories, with a tall wall surrounding it that I knew would be difficult to scale. Guards were stationed at every entrance, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a slight easing of the worry that had been gnawing at me. Audrey had taken my hand, her small fingers gripping mine tightly, and when I looked down at her, I gave her a reassuring smile. She looked up at me, her lips curving into a tiny but sweet smile of her own.The headmistress stood waiting in front of the school, a woman in her mid-forties with a warm, welcoming smile. Her hair was neatly tied in a bun at the nape of her neck, and she wore a long pleated skirt with a white blouse, exuding an aura of calm and kindness. She looked like the kind of person I could trust arou

CAMILLA’S P.O.VTension hung over us like a storm cloud. Someone had caught wind of our plan—that much was certain. But whoever they were, they hadn’t revealed themselves again. It was almost as if they were watching from the shadows, biding their time, making sure they didn’t attract too much attention.By morning, we were no closer to uncovering their identity. But despite that, anticipation bubbled inside me—the team sent to retrieve the night lock plant was due to return any day now. A part of me hesitated at the thought of using it on Alastair, yet having an ace up our sleeve gave me a sense of control. Ryker, on the other hand, had no such hesitations. He wanted Alastair gone—quickly and quietly.We were in the middle of breakfast, helping Audrey prepare for her first day of school when the team returned. My fingers itched to see the legendary plant that could bring even Alastair to his knees, but my daughter came first. She clung to mine and Ryker’s hands, her small fingers squ

Tears stung my eyes as I handed her over to Ryker. He held her close, his grip tight. “Did anyone…?” My voice faltered. “Did anyone die?”“Not the students. Some guards, maybe. I need to check.” His gaze flickered over my face. “Are you okay? You look pale.”“I just… didn’t expect it to take that much energy.” My vision blurred slightly, but I forced myself to stay upright. “I need a second. Or an hour. Or a really long nap.”“Do you want a carriage?”I shook my head—or tried to. The motion made everything worse. “I can ride.”Ryker kept an arm around me as we mounted our horses. He had to help me onto mine. We rode back slowly, careful not to jostle me too much.Christine was waiting in front of the palace, holding Aurora. The moment Audrey saw her, she leaped into her arms. Relief softened Christine’s features as she embraced her. Ryker took Aurora, and I leaned against him, staring at my sleeping infant.I had let this war with Alastair pull me away from her. That ended now. He had