and mist from the light rain that fell.
I suspected Vanessa had something to do with the weather, after finding out she controlled a lot of it in this valley. I
wondered what light rain meant. Was she feeling sadness for what happened in the throne room? Did she feel any penance or
sorrow for the pain she’d inflicted, the insults she had flung at me?
As if every misfortune, every doom filled memory for her family was caused by me, by my own family. When the Goddess
of Light would only give us what she believed we could handle. The events that had fallen upon Nicholas and his family were
awful, and if my family had anything to do with it, I would do everything in my power to apologise and fix the broken hearts of
this family that was now mine.
However, I’d always believed everything happened because it needed to, one’s destiny or fate, something that was written
down on the Goddess’s parchments of what would happen and what had passed.
What would come to be…This war would come to pass and if I survived it, I did not know where my place would be in
this world, whichever side came out on top.
Stepping through the tree line, I could hear the sound of waves crashing ahead of me, the smell of salt filled air brushing
against my skin as my eyes adjusted to the light. The sun was lowering over the horizon, with the moon making its nightly
greeting.
My dress was still stained with the blood of my once friend, and as I wrapped my arms around myself, a chill circled me.
Vanessa’s rain slowly disappeared and yet, the wind picked up slightly.
I’d been walking for what felt like hours, but neither my body or feet ached. I felt light, as if my worries were being lifted
with each step into the sand. Without even thinking, I kicked off my shoes to feel the cold, soft sand between my toes and
headed towards the shoreline.
Just yesterday I was here, falling more madly in love with Nicholas, and now, I was alone. Again.
The water pulled on me as it called out to me. I’d always found peace whenever I was near water. I sat down, my dress
became damp as the waves splashed lightly towards me and a sense of calm washed over me.
I wanted to speak to Norok. To explain that my marriage was done to heal him and to keep me out of Dorian’s hands. To
explain that I decided to come here of my own free will. My letter only gave the smallest of details.
I did not believe for one second the final part of his letter were his own words. He’d never harm me. But there was still
this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. Why was it only Norok who’d sent word? Why not my father?
I ran my fingers along the crescent moon mark on my wrist—the brand Nicholas had given me months ago—it felt sore and
bruised. Something had changed between us. I hoped it was for the best. We were finally moving forward with our
relationship. But something made me stop, even if we’d been here only last night, I didn’t fully believe his words that he was