Lucas was carried carefully into his personal chamber within the palace. Lira stayed behind to watch over him, her expression composed but her eyes full of quiet worry, while Selene had already left to visit her family after so months of uncertainty and travel.
As the palace servants entered the chamber with basins of warm water and towels, they moved with the precision and gentleness. Their intent was simple...to wash away the grime of the journey and tend to the unconscious young lord. But the moment one of them reached forward to undress Lucas, a cold shimmer of light flickered from beneath his cloak.
Before anyone could react, the air turned frigid. A crystalline figure darted out, her tiny translucent wings leaving trails of frost in the air. The Ice Belle had awoken.
