The kingdom of Eldwyn sent riders the following morning. Raven watched them with narrowed eyes—polished armor, pompous crests. These weren't saviors; they were vultures.
One of them, Lord Cassian, descended from his horse with a smirk that twisted her stomach.
"You must be the girl of the prophecy," he said, eyeing her like she was something exotic.
"I'm not your prophecy," she snapped.
Eryk stepped between them. "She's under my protection."
Cassian laughed. "We'll see how long that lasts."
Later that night, Raven found a letter hidden under her cot—written in her mother's hand. You must find the Stone of Eltherion. Only then can you break the curse.
Her destiny wasn't a choice anymore. It was a deadline.