[Ovelia's POV]
Ann bolted upright so fast the mattress springs shrieked beneath us. Moonlight caught the sharp glint in her widened eyes as she scrambled toward the window, her bare feet slapping against the wooden floorboards. The shutters groaned as she threw them open, revealing a sleek falcon perched on the windowsill, its talons digging into the weathered wood.
"It's Milo!" Ann's voice hitched with disbelief. Her fingers hovered just above the falcon's plumage, trembling slightly. "King Raymond's personal messenger!"
I rushed to join her, the cold night air raising goosebumps along my arms. I studied the magnificent bird—moonlight glinting off its razor-sharp beak, the royal crest emblazoned on its leather harness. Was this the news we'd been praying for? Or more terrible tidings?
