The throne room was silent. Not empty. Not lifeless. But waiting.
The frozen king—Damien's past self—stood just a few feet away, his steel-gray eyes locked onto Damien's with something between expectation and certainty.
Because he had already lived this moment before.
And now, he was watching it happen again.
—
The Choice That Should Not Be Made
Erynn's voice was the first to break the silence. "No."
It was barely a whisper.
The frozen king did not look at her.
His focus remained on Damien.
But his lips curled in mild amusement. "No?"
Erynn's silver eyes burned. "He's not taking the deal."
The king exhaled, tilting his head slightly. "You don't even know what the deal is."
Selene crossed her arms. "We don't have to."
Carys stepped forward, her stance sharp. "You're offering him a choice that isn't a choice."