Dark Fae Realm:
A week had passed.
Aire has spent seven more mornings beneath a sky that never truly brightened and seven nights where darkness settled over the kingdom like something alive instead of something natural.
Aire had counted every one.
She had stopped counting the hours.
Time behaved strangely inside the Dark Fae Realm. It stretched whenever she found herself alone and vanished whenever Vaelor summoned her.
Today was no different.
She stood alone upon the balcony outside her chamber.
Cold wind slipped through the endless black towers, carrying with it the scent of rain that never fell.
Her silver hair drifted around her face as she rested both palms against the stone railing.
Twenty-five days. That was how long remained before Vaelor intended to use her.
She didn't know how. She doubted she even wanted to. Questions only reminded her how powerless she truly was.
A soft knock echoed behind her.
"The Prince requests your presence."
Aire closed her eyes.
