Evening cloaked the sky in its crimson robe when the carriage wheels halted before the heavy iron gates of the palace. Sunset shimmered over the polished stone, reflected in the dark glass of the Lockard carriage, as if time itself bowed for a moment to whisper: You have returned.
The guard opened the gate without a word, and although silence dominated the palace grounds, a faint tremble stirred the air… as if the walls were watching and waiting. Valerian took a deep breath and looked at Claire sitting beside him her features almost still, but her eyes betrayed currents that wouldn't settle in their depths.
He didn't know what he had expected… perhaps a warm welcome? Or just official silence? But he wasn't prepared for what was to come.
