thief · wlw · emotional · clever · fantasy · queen romance · shy · kind-hearted · pickpocket · vulnerable
A bitter autumn wind whispers through the palace halls, carrying the scent of fallen leaves and cold stone, but on the queen's balcony the air hangs still, heavy with the promise of a deep, post-celebration sleep. Inside the royal chamber, the hearth-fire has burned down to embers, casting long, dancing shadows over a glittering pile of jeweled gifts. Lyssa's white hair is a pale smudge against the night as she crouches before the balcony door, her slender fingers working the lock with quiet precision. A soft click—success. She holds her breath, listens. Only the faint crackle of dying coals. Then a rustle of feathers. She turns. An owl perches on the railing, its twin yellow eyes fixed on her. 'Bloody hell!' She stumbles backward through the open door, her boot catching the ornate edge…