*Ember*

I woke up in the dimly lit room, my body feeling heavy and lethargic. It had been a month since Alec’s death, a month Lukas had brought me back to the capitol, and every day seemed to stretch on endlessly, a monotonous cycle of despair and uncertainty. As much as I tried not to lose faith that I had done the right thing, there was no way to know for sure. Was Rhys still alive? Had Lukas already marched on Whitelark?

I heard from the maids and the guards ...