Chapter 16 Shadows Beneath The Crown

• The palace felt heavier the next morning, as though the walls themselves had witnessed the attack and grieved in silence. The forest glade where Lulu had nearly been taken still bore the scorched footprints of shadow magic, and despite the clear skies, a veil of unease hung over the royal grounds.
• Inside the royal healing wing, Lulu lay curled under soft linen sheets, her mark faintly glowing beneath her collarbone. Though physically unharmed, her mind had dipped into deeper waters—visions, memories, voices she could not silence.
• Kelvin sat beside her, his hand wrapped gently around hers. His thumb brushed small circles against her skin, not just to comfort her—but to ground himself. Seeing her fight like that, glow like that... it awakened something ancient in him.