Love and Lies

Love and Lies

The night sky in Veridia was different from anything Rebecca had ever seen. The stars seemed to shimmer with their own life, twinkling against the deep indigo heavens like ancient, watchful eyes. She stood just beyond the camp, her thoughts tangled with everything that had happened since they arrived. Her magic now awakened and raw within her, buzzed at the edges of her awareness. The vision of betrayal haunted her—cloudy but ever-present. But more than anything, she felt the weight of something else growing inside her, something she hadn’t anticipated.

“Rebecca.” Prince Tarek’s voice was low, a soft interruption in the silence. She turned to find him standing a few steps behind her, his dark eyes reflecting the soft glow of the firelight from the camp.

“You should be resting,” he said, moving closer. “The healing process can take a toll, especially when your magic is involved.”