Liam pov

As I watched Maxine leave my chambers, a storm of conflicting emotions roiled within me. Her attitude was unexpected, and it chomped at me. What was she up to? Why the sudden change? The way she carried herself, the determination in her eyes—it was all new, and I couldn't help but be intrigued.

I monitored her closely over the next few days, my frustration was mounting as I found nothing suspicious. She trained harder than ever, pushing herself to the brink, but there was no ...