Chapter 13: Fractured Alliances

The morning air was filled with a chill, but it was nothing compared to the weight of discoveries settling in Aveline's chest. She stood in the center of her quarters, the stolen letters from Elder Thorne's study spread out before her. The mysterious messages hinted at betrayal, manipulation, and a hidden alliance with an unknown third party. The evidence was crystal clear, but it wasn't enough. She needed more to expose Thorne and also survive doing it.

A knock on her door startled her. Before she could respond, her father entered, his expression unreadable. Beta Kellan was a man of duty and strength, but this time his face was filled with a hint of vulnerability, something she rarely saw.

"What were you thinking, sneaking into Thorne's study?" he demanded angrily, shutting the door behind him. His voice was low but sharp, filled with both anger and worry at the same level.