The palace gates never felt so intimidating at that moment. Atheline glanced briefly at Zelpher who looked just as conflicted.
'Well I'm not the only one'
He had noticed it the moment he neared the gates, he could see the tension on the guards.
He was late, by thirty minutes.
It had taken him more than the planned five minutes to choose the gift and another to get past the ever-increasing crowd.
Zelpher exhaled softly.
"I told you, your highness" he harshly whispered through his teeth," now you've also gotten me in trouble. "
Atheline didn't respond, his gaze had already lifted.
Lilith was there.
She was standing on top of the black stone steps, just beyond the palace doors. The faint glow from the glowing vines caught her hair, making it shimmer.
She was dressed in a red dress that hugged her body, covered with a white fox fur coat that dragged behind her.
