Maximus's POV

I should have been resting, but I couldn’t. My mind wouldn’t stop. Something inside me kept pulling, whispering, telling me to go somewhere.

That was how I ended up here—inside the royal study.

The room was huge, with tall shelves reaching the ceiling, packed full of books. The air smelled old, heavy with dust and secrets. The fire in the corner had almost burned out, and the only light came from a small lamp on the desk.

I didn’t even know what I was searching for. I only knew I had to find something. Anything.

Those shadows Soraya spoke about… if they were truly real, they must have...