Raya Banks

I wiped at the tears that stained my cheeks furiously as I ran through the dark hallways of Stone City Castle.

“Excuse me,” I whispered blithely after I had almost run through the trio of maids that broke out suddenly from the corner of the corridor, feeling the force of their curious stares as they hesitated, their feet turning toward me before I rushed past.

I already knew what they wanted to ask, “Are you alright Miss Raya? Are you harmed?” but I wasn't sure that I was, not with the emotions that were wracking through me.

I had seen the look on Nikolai’s dashing face, the way...