Cracks in the Armor

Darius sat in silence, his gaze lost in the world beyond Katherine’s window. The palace gardens stretched below, their pristine rows of roses and shimmering fountains a jarring contrast to the chaos churning within him.

Queen Zenith’s offer—a fragile bridge between denizens and clefts—lingered like a storm cloud, promising unity but threatening ruin. His fingers tightened around the armrest, the polished wood cool against his calloused skin, a reminder of how out of place he felt in this gilded cage.

The door slammed open, splintering his thoughts. “Get away from her!” Lord Harrison’s voice cut through the room like a blade, thick with venom as he stormed in, his boots striking the marble floor with deliberate force. “You filthy animal! If not for the queen’s mercy, you’d be dead.”

Darius rose, his body groaning under the effort.