ISOLDE

Today was Velin's judgment.

The thought alone made my chest tighten. She had fainted several times when she first heard of Rowan’s death. Maybe, just maybe, she had hoped Rowan would come to her aid, but fate was cruel. Everyone was here in the hall, all eyes were sharp and expectant, except his. Rowan’s chair remained empty, a hollow reminder of the life stolen from us.

Velin was a shadow of the woman I once knew. Blood smeared her flawless skin, her black hair clung in wet, ...