Elara's POV
A few hours later, I accepted it.
Figuring out where they had taken Kaelen would be impossible. I'd had an idea, but the realization was a cold stone in my gut: I couldn't do anything except wait. To search the palace would only draw more of Malakor's attention. To demand answers would be to show my hand, my vulnerability. My helplessness. I had to sit in my gilded cage and let the punishment unfold.
Malakor had won. Again.
My hands were clenched into fists. My breath came fast and shallow. Every part of my body felt tight, coiled, ready to explode.
Just like he'd won against my father. Just like he'd controlled my parents for years, twisting them, manipulating them, breaking them down until they were nothing but puppets wearing crowns.
And now he was doing the same to me.
