THE SHADOW BOUND CROWN

Lysara walked through the grand corridors of the castle, her expression carefully neutral, masking the tension that coiled deep within her. The idea of meeting her father always left a bitter taste in her mouth, but this was necessary. She had given her word to Aurelia, and she would not break it, even if it meant facing the man she despised the most.

As she entered the throne room, King Ravenshade sat on his imposing gilded throne, his piercing gaze settling on her the moment she stepped forward. He did not smile, nor did he frown—his face was unreadable, as always.

"To what do I owe this rare visit, daughter?" he inquired, his voice even but carrying the weight of authority.

Lysara clenched her fists at her sides before forcing herself to relax. "I have come to request permission to take Princess Aurelia on a tour of the kingdom," she stated calmly, keeping her tone diplomatic.

The king's expression did not change, but his fingers tapped against the armrest of his throne in contemplation. "And why should I grant this request?"

Lysara met his gaze without hesitation. "She is a guest of Ravenshade. A tour will strengthen ties between our kingdoms and leave a favorable impression."

The king chuckled, though it lacked warmth. "You speak as if you care for politics."

"I care for duty," she countered smoothly. "And the protection of this kingdom and my family."

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then, the king smirked. "Very well. You may take Princess Aurelia on this tour, but on one condition. Laurien will accompany you."

Lysara tensed. "Laurien?"

The king leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp with amusement. "Yes. He is an important guest, and I would hate for him to feel neglected while waiting for his chance to court your sister."

Lysara's jaw clenched. This was the first she was hearing of this courtship deal. "A week each, then? And Evelyn has no say in this?"

The king gave a dismissive wave. "She will choose in the end. But I see no harm in giving both men equal opportunity."

Lysara wanted to argue, but she knew it would be futile. Instead, she exhaled slowly and gave a slight nod. "Fine. I accept."

The king studied her before nodding. "You are intelligent, Lysara. Form stronger ties with both. Your sister's future may depend on it."

Her fingers twitched, but she bowed slightly, eager to end this meeting. "If that is all, I will take my leave."

"Go then. But remember—make a good impression."

She left without another word, feeling both relieved and irritated. It was rare for her father to summon her, and rarer still for their encounters to be this short. Still, she had secured her request, even if it came at the price of Laurien's company.

Returning to her chambers, Lysara quickly changed into a simple tunic and trousers, discarding the restrictive court attire. She pressed her hand against the hidden panel in her room, revealing the entrance to the lower chambers. Silent as a shadow, she slipped inside, descending the narrow staircase into the underground training hall.

The dimly lit space was cool, with stone walls that bore the marks of years of training. Standing in the center was her teacher, Sakael, a man as unreadable as the king himself. His piercing gaze assessed her as she approached.

"You are late," he remarked, though not unkindly.

Lysara rolled her shoulders. "Had to meet with my father."

Sakael raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He simply gestured for her to take her stance. "Show me what you've learned."

Without hesitation, Lysara called upon her telekinetic abilities, sending a set of weighted training daggers floating in the air. She flicked her wrist, and they shot toward the training dummies, embedding into their targets with precision. The effort was minimal, but she knew this was only the warm-up.

Sakael nodded approvingly. "Control is improving. But endurance is still a weakness. Overuse drains you too quickly."

He attacked without warning, a wooden staff swinging toward her ribs. She barely dodged, rolling to the side and countering with a wave of energy that sent him back a step. But she felt the familiar pull of exhaustion creeping in.

"Again," he ordered.

They sparred for two relentless hours. Lysara pushed herself to the limit, forced to use her swordplay more than her powers, as Sakael ensured she would not rely solely on magic.

When they finally stopped, she was breathing heavily, her muscles aching but her mind sharper than before.

"You have improved," Sakael stated, offering her a water flask. She took it, drinking deeply.

As she wiped her mouth, she hesitated before speaking. "There is something I should tell you."

Sakael tilted his head. "Speak."

Lysara exhaled. "Princess Aurelia knows about my powers. She saw me use them."

There was a pause. Sakael's gaze sharpened. "And what does she intend to do with that knowledge?"

"Nothing—for now. We reached an agreement."

Sakael watched her for a long moment before nodding. "Then trust your instincts. But be cautious. The fewer who know, the better."

Lysara looked away. "I know."

Her teacher studied her for a moment longer before he said, "You should rest."

She nodded, knowing he was right. She had a long day ahead of her tomorrow, and she would need all the strength she could muster—for both Aurelia and Laurien.

As she made her way back to her chambers, her mind was filled with thoughts of what was to come.