Chapter 20: Claiming the Throne

Sleep refuses to come. I lie awake long after Kael leaves, staring at the ceiling while shadows stretch across the walls like waiting hands. The phoenix in me is restless circling, pacing, breathing smoke into my bloodstream. Every time I close my eyes, I feel it. Something approaching. Something shifting. By the time dawn touches the sky, I’ve given up trying to rest. A sharp knock breaks the silence. Before I can answer, the door opens and Rokan steps in. His expression is unreadable,...