King Theran sat alone in his private chamber, tucked away in the upper wing of the royal keep. The storm outside hadn’t reached the capital yet, but the air already carried its promise heavy, charged, waiting.

  The fire crackled in the hearth beside him, casting a warm orange glow over shelves filled with scrolls, reports, and worn books. It was his refuge, a place where kingship could fade away, and he could read, listen, learn, and observe. Tonight, however, the silence felt different.

  He unfolded a report stamped with the seal of the outer watch and paused at the sender’s name. Vaktar. The scout he had stationed in the Vaelthorn territories. Quiet, dependable, sharp-eyed. He’d been watching a potential threat, no, a curiosity, the blacksmith.

  Theran’s brow furrowed slightly. He took a sip of deep red wine, letting it linger on his tongue as he opened the document.

  The message was brief.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Vaelthorn safe. The rift has been closed by Engineer Robertson.

  He stilled. For a long moment, the words hung in the flickering candlelight like an echo.

  Theran slowly stood, the report loosely gripped in one hand. He moved across the chamber to the tall, arched window and gazed out at Eldros's skyline, the capital city cloaked in shadow. In the distance, lightning forked across the clouds, flashing a silver light over the spires and rooftops in a flickering burst.

  Thunder rumbled a few seconds later, deep, distant, and approaching. He took another sip of wine, eyes narrowing. An Engineer. After all this time. Behind him, he heard the soft sound of footsteps on stone.

  A gentle arm slipped around his, and he turned slightly to see the bright, knowing smile of his daughter, Theresa. Her blue eyes, her mother’s eyes, looked up at him with curiosity. For a moment, he said nothing. Just watched her, this bright spark of joy in an increasingly dark world. Then he spoke, voice low, almost amused.

  “Theresa, my dear, would you like to meet an interesting man?”

  Outside, another flash of lightning lit up the sky, and for a moment, it illuminated a single spire in the distance. A dark, monolithic tower. Silent. Waiting.

  END OF BOOK ONE.