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It had been a full year since Ariel arrived at the royal castle as a slave—twelve moons of silent obedience, midnight tears, and hidden longing. Life had not been easy for her since that dreadful night. Not once had she seen Haven again, though her heart still ached for him with every breath she took. Every dawn she woke hoping, maybe today. But every dusk reminded her that hope was a cruel thing to cling to in a place built on rules and fear.
At least she wasn't completely alone. Iryza, the mischievous witch who had somehow become her only true friend, was always by her side—teaching her the customs of the lycanthropes, guiding her through the twisted halls of royal etiquette, and sometimes, making her laugh when life felt unbearably heavy.
