Elara's POV

I didn’t remember walking out of the castle.

My legs carried me, shaky and stiff, through the winding halls, past flickering torches and cold stares. The sky had already begun to change into oranges and purples. Shadows began to grow across the stone courtyard like they were reaching for me, dragging me toward what waited at nightfall.

I stood there, breath coming fast.

I was running out of time.

A breeze blew around me, teasing strands of hair from my braid and with it came ...