Chapter 96: A Chance

Elian sat in his chambers, gazing out the window at the sprawling palace gardens. The flowers were in full bloom, their vibrant colors dancing in the breeze, but Elian found little joy in the view.

The gifts Izan sent through his personal guard, Dillion, were thoughtful, rare books, delicate trinkets, even flowers that once held special meaning between them. Yet, no matter how many times Dillion knocked on the door, Elian's heart sank a little more with each delivery.

Izan never came.

Izan never visited since that first day when he'd been brought to the palace. Instead, Izan had sent gifts, small tokens of affection delivered by his personal guard, Dillion.

Elian had once loved Izan so deeply, but now, that love felt more complicated. It was hard to know what to do with it, and even harder to understand the lingering pain of betrayal.