"It has already begun," Naveen murmured, her voice trembling with shock. "The queen is clever. She cast a separation spell on the princess. The farther she gets from the palace, the stronger the spell's effects become."
Rhaegar's eyebrows shot up in confusion. The witch's explanation defied his expectations. "But she was meant to move to the northern border anyway. Why would the queen put such a spell on her?"
Naveen sighed, shaking her head as if trying to piece together a puzzle with missing pieces. "Perhaps the spell was placed recently—to stop her from escaping or... to prevent her from being taken."
The king's face darkened, his expression a storm of cold fury and frustration. Althea had accounted for everything, while he had been caught unprepared. The realization sent his anger simmering, his blood threatening to boil over.
