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Jace froze the moment he saw her. 
For a heartbeat, he couldn't move, his legs rooted to the stone floor as his mind wrestled with the image before him.

Could it truly be her?
His heart thundered, refusing to believe, and yet every part of him longed to.

The shock broke like a wave, and he surged forward without thought, his boots striking the floor in a frantic rhythm of heavy thuds.

His hands found her shoulders, gripping them tightly as if to anchor her in place, as if she might vanish into the ether like a cruel mirage.
His violet eyes roamed her face desperately, searching for proof that she was real.

"Valyssa..." His voice cracked on her name, hoarse with disbelief and a swirl of overwhelming emotion.
"Is it really you?" He leaned closer, his breath mingling with hers, needing confirmation beyond sight. When her soft breath brushed his face, warm and steady, it shattered the dam inside him. He pulled her into his arms, crushing her against him in an embrace that left no room for words.

He couldn't let her go— not again.

She didn't protest, her own arms circling him, grounding him with her touch. His face buried in the curve of her neck, the faint scent of ash and salt clinging to her skin. He choked on his emotions, his tears dampening her shoulder. "I thought you had died." he whispered, his voice trembling. "Mother... she found your dragon dead, and your wings—they..." His words faltered, cracking under the weight of grief and relief.

"I'm here now." she murmured softly, her voice a balm to his aching heart. She tightened her hold, her fingers threading through his hair. "I'm here."

"How?" he asked, the question bursting out before he could stop it. "When did you arrive? How did you survive? Where have you been all this time?" The questions tumbled out in a rush, his voice tinged with desperation. He pulled back slightly, his hands still gripping her shoulders, his tear-streaked face searching hers for answers.

She smiled faintly at his urgency, the corners of her mouth quirking upward. "I'll tell you everything tonight." she promised, cutting him off gently before he could overwhelm her with more questions.

Jace hesitated, torn between relief and impatience, but he nodded, his hands slipping reluctantly from her shoulders. Before he could say more, Lord Corlys's commanding voice broke through the moment.

"Lady Valyssa." Corlys said smoothly, gesturing to the seat beside him. "Join me here."
Valyssa felt Jace stiffen beside her, his hand moving instinctively toward hers as though to shield her from the interruption.

She caught the faint downturn of his lips, the frustration darkening his expression.
His fingers brushed hers, lingering, and for a moment, she considered refusing Corlys' offer.
But then she caught the subtle edge in the Sea Snake's tone, the unspoken power play behind the invitation.

She smiled graciously, slipping her hand from Jace's. "Thank you, my lord. How kind of you." Her voice was light, pleasant, though her stomach churned with frustration.
She walked to the opposite side of the table, feeling Jace's gaze on her back with every step.

Corlys's ambition was no secret, nor was his wariness of everything, and everyone that might disrupt his family's position.
Valyssa understood his maneuver, though it didn't sting any less. She would endure his subtle slights if it meant preserving her sister's crown, but it took all her composure not to glare. Her pride was wounded, but her loyalty was stronger.

When she sat, she caught a glimpse of Baela settling into the seat beside Jace.
It wasn't a calculated move— it was routine by now.

Yet the sight still stirred something in Valyssa, a quiet ache that she pushed aside.