Chapter 20
Annalise
Four days had passed since I arrived at the palace, and life here had settled into a stifling routine. Each day was divided between sparring sessions with Dane, hunting excursions with Cassian, and long intellectual discussions with Sylus. The days blurred together, and though I was desperate to find the forbidden room or an escape route, the Princes rarely left my side, robbing me of any real opportunity.
Even the nights offered no solace. My room was guarded around the clock, with maids and sentries stationed just outside to report any suspicious activity directly to the Princes. It felt like a gilded prison, each layer of protection a reminder of just how trapped I was.
To make matters worse, my father hadn’t visited or sent a single word since my arrival. I knew
