Elara's pov

The corridor outside Kaelen's chambers was empty.

I'd waited until the guards changed shifts, counting the seconds in my head until I heard their footsteps fade around the corner. My heart hammered so hard I thought it might crack my ribs, but I forced my feet to move forward.

The door was massive—dark wood reinforced with iron, carved with wolves that seemed to watch me as I approached. I usually cleaned here but being here for a purpose other than work made my blood run ...