Moments later,

Author

The gardens of the High Citadel were nothing like the soft, sunlit grounds of Blackwood Villa.

Here, the flowerbeds held frost-blooming blue roses and silver thorns that never wilted, the hedges were carved into the shapes of wolves and griffins, and the twilight cast long, cool shadows over paths paved with pale moonstone. Aria walked alone along the western terrace, letting the crisp air clear her head after the morning’s council meeting, when she heard footsteps behind her - slow, deliberate, unhurried.

She turned.

The woman standing there was tall and striking, with hair like spun silver falling to her waist and eyes the color of glacial...