Leaning back, he added thoughtfully, "I wonder if the stakes have been raised. There must be a reason for Iris' hollow soul to act so boldly, or for Yves to entertain these ideas before, even if they're buried deep within his subconscious. Perhaps this war will decide whether it's going to bring forth the resurgence of the old dynasty… or the dawn of a new royal bloodline."
***
In the dimly-lit room, an ominous aura hung heavy in the air, casting shadows that seemed to dance with malicious intent.
As Ciara fed the fireplace, the flames flickered and danced, consuming the offered ashes with hungry fervor.
"Good job," she murmured to herself, her voice barely more than a whisper. "He'll surely come after Hugo Pierre now, and then I'll need to find another target to paint."
