TIARA THORNELLS
I allowed myself an hour of rest before Prince Zatan finally permitted me to visit my friends who were still recovering in the healing ward. As I made my way there, I couldn’t help but notice that he was right, we were surrounded by his vampire knights. They moved in silence, standing like statues in the shadows, their watchful eyes scanning every corridor, every turn of the castle. They were alert and distant from King Luther’s tower.
When I stepped into the healing ward, I saw my friends lying on separate beds. Their faces were pale, worn from pain and exhaustion. As soon as they heard the door creak open, all eyes turned to me.
“Tiara!” Sephora gasped, abruptly sitting up from her bed.
“You’re really safe!” she cried out in a trembling voice, nearly tripping as she
