A collective gasp ripples through the room, sharp and disbelieving. My heart stops, my breath catching in my throat as every eye turns to me. I freeze, unable to move, my mind racing to make sense of what’s happening. This can’t be real. This has to be a mistake.
Sabrina’s expression twists into something unrecognizable—shock, fury, and betrayal all colliding at once. Ravena’s glare pierces through me, her body tense as if she’s about to lunge. And Kael… Kael’s gaze remains steady, his words echoing in my ears.
“Talia,” he says again, his tone firm, unyielding. “Come to me.”
Eira stirs in my mind, her voice soft but certain. “Fate, Talia. This is fate.”
My legs feel like lead, but somehow, I take a step forward. Then another. The crowd parts around me, their whispers swirling like a storm as I make my way toward the dais, toward Kael. Toward a future I never dared to dream of.
My legs move as if on their own, carrying me forward, each step feeling weightless yet inevitable. It’s as though I’m being drawn toward something beyond my understanding, toward a destiny I never imagined could be mine. The whispers around me grow louder, a storm of confusion and disbelief, but it all fades into a distant hum. My focus is on Kael, his piercing gaze anchoring me.
Before I can reach the dais, a hand clamps down on my arm, yanking me to a halt. I gasp, spinning to find Ravena’s furious face inches from mine. Her grip is vice-like, her nails digging into my skin as she hisses through clenched teeth. “What do you think you’re doing, you filthy wench?”
Her voice is sharp enough to cut through the thick tension in the room, drawing several curious glances. I open my mouth to respond, but my voice catches in my throat. Ravena’s eyes narrow, her expression twisted with disdain as she glares down at me like I’m something foul she’s stepped in.