"Finally, they're gone," Gillian sighed, the heavy thud of the closing door cutting off the last of the hallway noise. The crowd of the panicked delegation, relieved mages and physicians, and royals had finally cleared out, leaving the room completely, wonderfully quiet.
Sitting up against a mountain of plush white pillows, Princess Iryna let out a long, quiet sigh. She looked down at her hands, tracing the faint, delicate veins beneath her skin where a lethal venom had been coursing only hours prior.
"So..." Iryna murmured softly, her gaze settling on the window where golden morning light reached across the floor. "I really almost died."
The moment the doors closed behind them, shutting out the palace and its countless watchful eyes, the rigid composure he'd worn as a prince slipped away. He let out a quiet breath and moved to the edge of the mattress.
