Chapter 21
Annalise
Two days had passed, and with the party looming the day after tomorrow, I found myself in the farthest corner of the kingdom—the secluded area where food for the dragons was prepared. The heavy aroma of smoked meat and charred spices filled the air, masking the sharp tang of the open flames. It was the only place where I could guarantee a sliver of privacy.
Seated on a low wooden bench, I reread Lucien’s letter, my fingers tracing the worn edges as though the act would imprint his words deeper into my memory. This was my sixth day in the Princes’ gilded prison, and every moment had been a preparation. By tomorrow, I would be gone.
I had mapped every route, memorized the guards’ rotations, and cataloged the blind spots around the kingdom. Their arrogance was their we
