Chapter 38 The Weight Of Crowns

• The silence that followed my father's death was more deafening than any battle cry. I stood over his body, my sword still dripping with his blood, and felt the weight of two kingdoms settle on my shoulders like a lead cloak. The soul-bond with Aldric thrummed between us, sharing not just power but the
• crushing realization of what we'd become.
• "Seraphina." Aldric's voice was soft, but I could hear the strain in it. The magical connection we'd forged was still raw, still seeking equilibrium. Every emotion I felt echoed in him, and vice versa. His concern for me mixed with his horror at the violence we'd witnessed.