Natalie~
The golden glow of the throne room suddenly felt dull, almost distant, as Gina's shaky voice broke through the silence. Every word she spoke sounded like it came from a place of pain, and it cut right through me. I sat close to Zane, my crown pressing down on my head like it weighed a thousand pounds—but my heart felt even heavier. Jasmine's strength stirred inside me, urging me to keep my composure, but the memories of everything I had endured before now clawed at me with every syllable Gina let out.
"Gina," I said, my voice steady but laced with the storm brewing inside me, "you said nothing's working out for you. What do you mean? Tell me everything."
Gina's red-rimmed eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw the flicker of the woman who'd once sneered at my pleas for a blanket. Now, she looked small, broken, her gray-streaked hair falling in limp strands around her face. She swallowed hard, her hands twisting together as she began.
