Lorien’s POV

Nestled in the valley between two towering mountains stood a castle so breathtaking that the air left my lungs.

“This is beautiful,” I whispered, turning slowly to take it all in.

Auren’s hand was still locked around mine, firm but grounding, and I didn’t want him to let go. Both of us were on edge in this foreign land, and his touch offered a comfort I hadn’t felt since my parents’ deaths.

We followed the cobblestone path, weaving beneath stone arches where ...