Valerian’s eyes shot open. Dawn’s light streamed into the chamber, and for a heart-stopping moment, he felt nothing but a primal, desperate need to find his son. His gaze landed on the crib.

  The boy was there. Alive. His luminous blue eyes, so much like his own, blinked up at him.

  A sob of pure relief tore from Valerian’s chest. He scooped his son into a fierce hug, burying his face in the warmth of the quilt, tears of gratitude streaming down his cheeks. He was alive. Nothing else mattered.

  But something was wrong. As he held his child close, he noticed the somber faces of his people watching him. A cold dread began to coil in his gut, a fear that stole the joy from his heart. He scanned his son again, searching for any sign of illness, any mark, but the boy was perfect. Healthy.

  “What is it?” he asked the forge master, his voice tight with a new panic. “What happened?”

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  The forge master’s reply was a hammer blow to his soul. “The star, my lord. The star that was promised… it fell. It is gone.”

  Sorrow hit Valerian, a deep, cutting grief for the destiny his son had lost. But beneath it, a strange and guilty sense of relief bloomed—his son would never bear the burden of the throne he himself had run from. He looked at the faces around him, at their tired but loyal eyes. He saw the empty space where the old scholar had been and felt a pang of deep gratitude and sorrow. They had all given a piece of themselves. This miracle had come at a price.

  And as that thought settled, the dread in his belly returned, sharp and cold. He looked around the room again, and this time, he realized who was missing.

  Antheros. She wasn't there.

  “Where is your lady?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper, afraid of the answer.

  The forge master looked away. The other servants grew unnaturally still. The silence was a noose, tightening with every beat of Valerian’s heart.

  “WHERE IS SHE?” he demanded, his voice cracking with frustration and terror.

  The forge master finally met his gaze, his own eyes full of a sorrow that shattered what was left of Valerian's world.

  “My lord,” he said, his voice heavy. “The Champion has been imprisoned. The Emperor has summoned you.”