The throne room was dimly lit when Sophia entered, the grand stained glass casting shards of moonlight across the marble floor. King Thorne stood by the high arched window, his tall frame cloaked in a deep crimson robe lined with gold. He didn't turn immediately—just stared into the dark skies as if searching for something long lost.
"Come closer, child," he finally said, his voice warm but heavy with something else… regret.
Sophia stepped cautiously forward, heart thudding. She didn't know what to expect, but the weight in the air told her this wasn't just a royal welcome. This was deeper.
"I remember when your mother fled with you," he said, turning to face her at last. "Emily was radiant, fierce… stubborn. And when the prophecy was revealed, she vanished with you to the human realm. I was one of the few who knew."
Sophia's breath caught. "You knew my mother?"
"I loved her," Thorne said simply. "Not as a lover. As a protector. She trusted me when she had no one else."
He moved toward the ornate chest near the throne and pulled out a velvet-bound book. He handed it to her. "This is your history. Your bloodline. You are not just fae. You're descended from Aurelitha, the goddess of realms, balance, and resurrection. It's why your powers are unlike any other. Why the land sings when you walk. Why you were born with wings meant to bloom only upon reuniting with your mate."
Sophia opened the book slowly, seeing sketches of a goddess with glowing wings and blazing eyes. She looked almost identical to her.
"Why now?" she asked. "Why tell me this now?"
"Because once you're marked, Sophia, your powers will reach their peak. And with that comes danger. The realms will feel your presence. Not all who sense it will bow. Some will come to destroy."
She looked up at him, heart pounding. "And Lucian's role?"
King Thorne's eyes darkened slightly. "To guard your soul. To bind your power. To love you… but also to anchor you. Because if you lose yourself to what sleeps inside, no one—not even Lucian—will be able to bring you back."
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