Ashley

The cold had long seeped into my bones by the time I finally gave up waiting. I wrapped my arms around myself as I walked back toward my room. I had stood at our meeting for over an hour, waiting but Ethonian never came.

A small sigh escaped me. “She must have gotten caught up with work.” I told myself, though the uneasy feeling in my chest refused to settle.

I decided to return back to my room, the corridors were quieter now, the usual palace noise reduced to distant echoes. I barely had time to take another step before two figures moved in front of me, blocking my...