"Lady Dorianna, you have a visitor." The guard's voice sliced through Dorianna's fifty-count sit-ups.
She stopped, panting, and pushed herself to her feet, expecting Raula. So, when Blaize walked in, it was a genuine surprise.
"Blaize, what a surprise." Dorianna's voice, though a little breathless, held genuine welcome. "I'd hug you, but I'm sweaty from my workout. Finding ways to pass the time in prison isn't easy," she added with a dry, almost bitter laugh.
The stale air of her cell seemed to mock her words.
Blaize leaned in, her movements gentle, and pressed a light kiss to her sister's cheek.
"I-I understand," she managed, her voice soft but clear. Her mind immediately flew to Selene, a prisoner in a strange land, and a wave of empathy washed over her. In that moment, Blaize felt a quiet surge of happiness for leaving the book behind for Selene. A shiver of fear snaked up her spine at the thought of Zephyr finding out, but the risk, she knew, was worth it.
