Pearl’s POV
The first thing I felt was the softness beneath me, the silk sheets that clung to my skin like water. When I opened my eyes, the red curtains swayed gently, blood-dark against the morning light. For a heartbeat, I forgot where I was. Then memory returned in a rush, the council chamber, the accusations, the weight of chains, and finally, the voice that had declared me innocent.
I pressed a trembling hand to my chest. I was free.
The door creaked softly. Rowan entered, his expression warm but carrying a shadow I couldn’t quite name. He carried himself like someone who had spent the entire night awake, waiting.
“You’re awake,” he said gently. “You should eat something.”
I glanced toward the table where a tray of food had been set, steaming bread, fruit, and tea. But before I
