Chapter 25: Facing the Truth

Wandering in the library to take her mind off the king and his strange apology, Illyra browsed through the books on Winter Mountain history. She dragged her finger along the book spines, reading their titles as she walked.

Skylar had opened up to her, showing her… vulnerability. She couldn’t help but think it was just another trick, another mind game to get her compliance. She’d sacrificed her freedom for the sake of her people, and he still felt the need to toy with her.

Shaking her head, the princess pulled a book off the shelf and leafed through the pages. She found an illustration of the bird that had attacked them in the mountains. A creature called an ice harpy.

Illyra ran her thumb across the illustration, so detailed and accurate, with silver edging around the bird’s wings.

“And I thought I was the only one that hid away in the library on days like today.”

Illyra started, the book dropping from her hands as she clutched her chest.