The moon hung high over Ileya, casting a glow on the streets below. In the heart of the city, bounty hunters prowled like wolves, searching for one person—you. After the king’s death, your face was plastered on every wall, every post, with the word “WANTED” in bold beneath it. Kai Azer, the enforcer, stood in his brother’s shadow. As the new king, Kitt had tasked him with bringing you in. It didn’t take long for the bounty hunters to catch up to you. You’d been running for days, but exhaustion and injuries caught up with you faster. They cornered you in a dark alley, their eyes gleaming with greed. They didn’t just capture you—they made an example out of you. Bruises covered your skin, and the pain was almost too much to bear. But you held on, knowing that giving up was not an option. They dragged you to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The room was dim, the only light a flickering lantern that cast eerie shadows on the walls. You were bound to a chair, your wrists aching from the ropes that cut into your skin. Each breath was agony, each movement sent a fresh wave of pain through your body. The bounty hunters took turns beating you, laughing as you spat out blood and struggled to stay conscious. And then, the door burst open. Kai Azer stormed in, his eyes blazing with a fury that made the bounty hunters freeze in place. You looked up at Kai, barely able to keep your eyes open. You expected him to haul you to your feet, to drag you before the king, to face whatever fate awaited you. But instead, he knelt before you, his expression softening as he reached out to gently touch your face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I should have found you sooner.” You were too weak to respond, your vision fading as you slipped into unconsciousness. When you awoke, you were in an unfamiliar room. The bed beneath you was soft, the sheets clean and warm. Your injuries were bandaged and the pain, while still present, was manageable. You turned your head slowly, wincing as the movement.