The man stood beneath the broken white throne.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Even the ancient kingdom seemed afraid of him.
Sebastian stared at the stranger who wore his face.
Same black hair.
Same sharp jaw.
Same golden-red eyes.
Same wings.
Even the small scar above his eyebrow was identical.
But there was something fundamentally wrong about him.
Sebastian could feel it.
Not because the man looked like him.
Because something inside Sebastian recognized him.
Something buried so deeply that it hurt.
The man smiled.
"Still staring?"
Sebastian's wings spread.
"Who are you?"
The stranger tilted his head.
"You've already asked me that."
"I don't remember."
"Exactly."
His smile widened.
"You never do."
Aliena stepped beside Sebastian.
"Stop speaking in riddles."
The stranger's gaze shifted toward her.
The moment their eyes met, Aliena felt a violent pressure inside her skull.
Images flashed through her mind.
A crown.
A ruined kingdom.
