Alyssane bit her lip, the sharp pain grounding her as she stepped away from Kazmun. The warmth of his touch faded too quickly, leaving only the ghost of it behind—nothing more. His gaze burned into her back, but she refused to look, forcing herself to focus on the eerie stillness of the lake ahead.
'Why is he here?'
The question gnawed at her, twisting through the fear that had settled in her chest. It made no sense for the Crown Prince to be in this cursed place. Yet here he stood, silent as a ghost, his eyes cold, unreadable. She half-expected him to offer some explanation, say why he was there, say anything—but he said nothing. He never did.
Another hollow ripple echoed from the lake, its sound low and ominous. Alyssane's eyes were drawn back to the lake. She could barely make out the mirrored platform on the far side, and beyond that, two faint outlines of doors.
The lake was their only way out.
