Ember Frost’s POV

The Northern Duke looked at me, his eyes brimming with tears. At that moment, he seemed stripped of all authority, fragile, exposed, almost like a child who didn’t know where to turn.

I broke eye contact, forcing myself not to stop, and pressed on. “If Seraphina truly felt nothing for you, then why would she risk everything to claim you? Why would she start a war she knew could cost her life just to be acknowledged?”

I went on. “And if she truly meant nothing to ...