Eliora walked back to her room without thinking. Her feet moved, but her mind was somewhere else entirely.
When she opened the door, Clara and Tess were already waiting inside.
Eliora stopped, looking at Clara with surprise. "Clara? I thought I told you to take a few days off."
Clara smiled a little. "I had nothing to do at home, Your Majesty. I am perfectly fine."
Eliora just nodded slowly. She could not force a smile or fake any emotion. Her heart felt heavy.
Clara and Tess helped her take a bath and dress for the day. But Eliora's mind stayed far away, trapped in the dark dungeon where Zarek was locked up.
She had not even been allowed to see him. She let out a long, shaky sigh.
Clara stopped brushing her hair and looked at her with worry. "Are you alright, Your Majesty?"
Eliora shook her head weakly. "I am fine," she whispered, though her voice told a very different story.
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the castle, shaking the walls and rattling the windows.
