Ariya sat weakly on the small bed, her eyes half-glazed with grief.

Mia sat beside her, trembling, and finally broke.

"Mother..."

Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face.

"Elowyn-she... she wrote to me. She said everything's changing. Everyone's after her, mother."

Ariya's hand closed over Mia's. "And what else, child? What else did you hear?"

Mia's lips quivered. "That her mate... is Baron Ortega. Of RuthValis."

Ariya froze. Her pupils widened as if ...