The throne room emptied slowly, voices drifting out like ghosts, whispers still trembling with the weight of Xaden's judgement.
But Fiona barely heard any of it. Her heart was beating too loudly, too painfully. Everything inside her felt raw, from the horror of Anna's crimes to the dizzying relief of seeing her and Uther dragged away.
It was over.
Anna was gone.
Truly gone.
Yet the moment her eyes found Erik standing near the far pillar, staring at her like she was the last thing anchoring him…she felt it, the sharp twist of dread in Fiona's chest.
No.
No, this wasn't over.
Not for her.
Erik moved first.
He pushed off the pillar and started toward her slowly, each step heavy, deliberate, almost fearful.
Fiona looked away quickly, pretending to adjust Nanny Nia's shawl even though the old woman was already steady on her feet.
"Thank you, dear," Nanny Nia murmured. "I think my work here is done."
And then Nanny Nia seemed to be looking in a different direction.
