The palace did not sleep.
Prince Kimo stood by the tall window of his chamber, frost creeping along the glass in thin, restless veins. Dawn hovered just beyond the horizon, but rest refused to come.
The dream clung to him.
His mother's voice had been there—real, aching, alive.
And afraid.
---
Somewhere Far Away
Queen Elira gasped softly as the chains tightened.
They were not iron, nor rope, but magic—ancient restraints carved into stone, glowing faintly as they drained her strength. The chamber was cold, buried deep beneath a mountain where light barely reached.
She was alive.
But every breath felt borrowed.
Her wrists burned where her power was bound, her magic pressed down until it felt like drowning on dry land. She pressed her forehead against the stone, steadying herself.
"Kimo…" she whispered.
She had reached him only briefly—through blood, through bond, through love strong enough to tear through barriers.
But it had cost her.
The walls pulsed, reacting to her attempt.
"Not yet," she murmured to herself, forcing calm. "You must stand a little longer, my son."
---
The Palace — A Hidden Chamber
The foreigners were no longer smiling.
"This was not the agreement," one of them snapped, slamming a gloved hand against the table. "You promised the prince would be softened. Persuaded."
Queen Mearith stood opposite them, spine straight, expression cool as glass.
"And he will be," she said calmly. "You grow impatient."
"Our magic was disrupted," another foreigner said darkly. "Someone interfered."
Mearith's jaw tightened—just barely.
"She is restrained," she said sharply. "Elira cannot act freely."
"But she did," the envoy replied. "And because of that, the prince resists us even more."
Silence fell.
Mearith turned away, fists clenched at her sides.
"Oki," she said, the name edged with venom. "Everything bends back to that girl."
"Then remove her," the envoy said simply.
Mearith's eyes hardened.
"Careful," she warned. "Touch her openly, and the prince will turn the kingdom into ice and ash."
A slow smile crept across the envoy's face.
"Then we don't touch her openly."
---
Back in the Prince's Chamber
Oki arrived before the guards were fully awake.
She found Kimo standing exactly where she expected—eyes fixed on the sky, shoulders rigid with control that was beginning to crack.
"You saw her," she said softly.
He turned. His composure faltered the moment he met her eyes.
"She's alive," he said, voice breaking despite himself. "I felt it. She was afraid… in pain."
Oki crossed the room without hesitation and took his hands in hers, grounding him. No frost formed. No magic lashed out.
"You're right," she said gently. "She lives."
His breath shuddered.
"Then why can't I reach her?"
"Because she's being held," Oki replied. "Restrained by magic meant to weaken even queens."
Anger flared in his eyes—sharp, dangerous.
"They used her voice against me."
"I know," Oki said, lifting a hand to his cheek. "And you resisted."
He leaned into her touch before he could stop himself.
"I was afraid I was losing my mind."
"You weren't," she whispered. "You were being tested."
Silence wrapped around them, heavy but safe.
"She told me to stand," he said quietly. "The real her."
Oki smiled sadly.
"Because that's what she raised you to do."
Kimo closed his eyes for a moment, resting his forehead against hers.
"Stay," he murmured. "Just for now."
She didn't pull away.
"I'm here," Oki said softly. "And I will not let them break you."
Beyond the palace walls, the forest stirred.
And far beneath stone and spell, a queen waited—alive, enduring, and listening for her son's strength to answer back.
---
To be con.....