I couldn't sleep.The palace never truly darkened, but that night the glow of the coral walls felt sharper, restless, as though the ocean itself shared my unease.You have already become difficult to lose.
Azarus's words refused to leave my mind.
They replayed again and again, heavier each time.I floated near the balcony of my chamber, watching shadows of enormous sea creatures glide past the transparent barrier separating the palace from the endless deep. Normally the sight calmed me.
Tonight it felt like being watched.Every ripple of water carried tension.Every current whispered warning,the palace had changed.Or maybe… I had.A soft knock broke the silence.Before I could answer, Moana entered quickly, her expression more serious than I had ever seen it.
"They doubled the imperial guard," she said without greeting.
I turned toward her. "For me?"
She hesitated."For you," she admitted."And for the Emperor."
My stomach tightened."That sounds worse than you're saying."
