The last witch’s body hit the earth with a hollow thud. The fire circle flickered once… and died.For a moment, there was only the sound of the horses, still restless, their breaths misting in the cold air.Carlos wiped his blade on the cloak of the nearest fallen witch. His eyes didn’t leave the dark road ahead.“Back to the carriage. We need no wasting more time .”Helene swung into her saddle. “You’re welcome,” she muttered under her breath.Andrew grinned, already climbing onto the driver’s seat. “Well, that was shorter than I expected”Carlos smirked “all thanks to I, ““From the way you spoke I am quite sure you have not killed a witch this fast before ““That is if you have killed at all “ he said this under his breath Andrew heard this and was dumbfounded They set off again, wheels crunching over the frost-bitten dirt. The mist thinned as they pushed on, and the forest gave way to open land. No voices followed. No eyes watched. Only the long road to Decarov lay ahead.The s

Carlos had chosen the gown himself — a sweeping emerald silk, its bodice drawn tight with whalebone stays, its skirts spilling like forest shadows. The corset bit cruelly, cinching Janette’s waist, and the maids pressed layer upon layer of petticoats beneath the gown. By the time they bound the final ribbons at her back, the mirror showed a woman unrecognizable to herself — regal, untouchable, her green eyes sharpened into fire by the gown’s hue.Janette touched the glass softly. “Why this dress?”Carlos stood in the doorway, his eyes fixed on her reflection. “Because it matches your eyes. And tonight… everyone will see you as I do.”Far from the palace, Ariel chased Andrew carriage on foot when Andrew heard his name he demanded the coach man to stop the carriage .And she caught up to the carriage while heaving for breath with her hands trembling in her lap.“Please,” she whispered. “Let me come with you to the duke’s ball. I will be no trouble, I swear it.”Andrew raised a brow. “W

They left the ball beneath a sky that looked like spilled ink. Music and laughter still bled through the doors, but outside it was only stone, breath, and cold.Duke Humphrey stepped out with his cane and that tight smile he wore like perfume. “Leaving already?” he said, as if he owned the moon.Carlos didn’t smile. “My lady is not well,” he said, voice steady, soft, final.Humphrey’s eyes flicked to Janette, then back to Carlos. For a dangerous second he looked like he might protest, but something in Carlos’s gaze calm and deep and not entirely human scraped the words out of his throat. The duke stepped aside with a stiff bow. “Another night then.” “You have a lovely home,duke Humphrey “Janette bowedDuke Humphrey bowed” it is indeed my pleasure….lady” he hesitated trying to figure out her name“Janette”Janette said We will would take our leave “Carlos said and they went.The carriage rolled until the road decided to snap its own bones. Wood cracked. The wheel slumped. The driver c

Decades earlier in decarovThe palace was a world of its own. Dawn began not with birdsong but with the echo of boots striking polished stone. Guards lined the courtyard, armor glinting under the pale sun, spears raised high as though saluting the king who was still asleep in his chambers. The air always smelled faintly of oiled steel and burning torches. Silence was the law here silence and obedience.Carlos stood in their midst, a face among faces, a guard like any other. But his eyes told a different story. He bowed when Dexter shouted, he answered “Yes, Commander!” when ordered, yet inside, he carried fire one that never dimmed. Adam, the usurper, sat on the throne bought with Peter’s blood, and Carlos had come into the lion’s den not to serve but to destroy.Dexter, his commander, was iron given flesh. His voice carried like a whip, and his punishments were cruel. A guard late to duty was made to kneel for hours in the cold stone corridors. Another, caught dozing, had the flat of