: The Thorns

skin, faintly warm, like the exhale of something ancient beneath the earth. T

ina he

ed not to follow. Not into t

stepped

w. There were blossoms shaped like teardrops that glowed faintly blue, ferns with silver veins, and trees with ba

everal paces

closed b

" Seraphina muttere

meant to,"

t him. "That'

e is old. Very few come

why br

it speaks

o a circular glade,

. Women. All different. All regal. Some young, some older. Some smiling faintly, others sole

forward, h

hind her, quiet. "These w

roat c

slowly. "Al

dded

w I joi

darkened. "Not i

face was serene. Peaceful. Too peaceful. The k

ppened t

esit

m the curse. Some from madness. Some...

took a slo

t me here t

ecause you need to understand what it

agreed to

to. The realm al

n in your twis

ned, voice low.

between them, he

e isn't just ceremonial. It's magical. It changes y

arms around herself.

presence pressing around her again. "You'r

not a co

ot mean

er. Cut straight throu

want thi

he hadn't s

ver the face of a queen carved in tears. "She was kind," he

pered, "Why do

I am the only one who can k

if you f

dn't

t the rows of face

I'm trying

y he said it-quiet, almost plead

e?" sh

"I don't know. That'

petals from the ground, and for a moment,

me. There's something

ed, heart

rd, into the belly of the palace. The furthe

nlike the others-round, smooth

This is the me

wned. "What d

ut truth takes som

sed his palm to the door. It slid open

rcular room lin

s of

ng not her-but versions of her. In different gow

crowned and radiant. Another, dead in Kael's arms. Ano

his?" she

d. "The bond shows you al

shaken. "Why woul

too late to choose

stared at

o change. The reflection

hed tow

ack-right into

augh

her waist, steadying he

ed. "It al

ased he

"Every day. Every breath. The realm d

was quiet. "What h

e her fully. "You

't cruel-weren't angry-som

lized: he was t

had already

ld never l