WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.000
<v Speaker 1>The whispering willow's breath still lingered in her lungs Armani

2
00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:08.839
<v Speaker 1>moved through the palace halls like a ghost. Her footsteps

3
00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:12.080
<v Speaker 1>barely touched the stone, as if the vision still clung

4
00:00:12.119 --> 00:00:16.839
<v Speaker 1>to her body, weightless electric. The silence was too loud.

5
00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:21.359
<v Speaker 1>Every flickering torch seemed to cast Jake's silhouette in the shadows.

6
00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:27.559
<v Speaker 1>Every whisper of wind through the corridors sounded like his voice.

7
00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:31.399
<v Speaker 1>She stopped for a moment, pressing her hand to her chest.

8
00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:36.240
<v Speaker 1>Her heart wasn't the same. It didn't beat, It throbbed

9
00:00:36.600 --> 00:00:40.719
<v Speaker 1>like it was sinking with some ancient rhythm, like it

10
00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:45.320
<v Speaker 1>had remembered a song she'd never known. She'd forgotten a

11
00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:51.280
<v Speaker 1>bond deeper than this lifetime. She approached the door to

12
00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:57.399
<v Speaker 1>the royal chambers. The wood was warm beneath her fingertips, familiar, safe,

13
00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:06.200
<v Speaker 1>but safety no longer souono. Her inside was Brandon, her king,

14
00:01:06.599 --> 00:01:10.640
<v Speaker 1>her husband, the man who had always stood beside her,

15
00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:17.680
<v Speaker 1>but now her soul stood between two fires. She pushed

16
00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:21.159
<v Speaker 1>the door open. Brandon looked up from the chair near

17
00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:27.400
<v Speaker 1>the hearth. The flames lit his profile, strong, regal. His

18
00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:33.560
<v Speaker 1>eyes softened when he saw her. You're late, he said, gently,

19
00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:39.000
<v Speaker 1>rising to meet her. She offered a faint smile. I

20
00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:46.439
<v Speaker 1>needed air. He stepped closer, concern touching his brow. You're pale,

21
00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:50.840
<v Speaker 1>ARMANI tried to hold herself still as his hands came

22
00:01:50.920 --> 00:01:55.519
<v Speaker 1>to rest on her arms. The willow it stirred something

23
00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:01.159
<v Speaker 1>Brandon didn't press. He simply pulled her clothes, pressing her

24
00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:06.799
<v Speaker 1>against his chest. She felt his heart beat, steady, loyal, known,

25
00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:13.400
<v Speaker 1>but her own rhythm rebelled. Later, she found herself drawn

26
00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:17.240
<v Speaker 1>to the balcony, drawn to the stars. The jasmine on

27
00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:21.719
<v Speaker 1>the breeze curled around her like memories. The sky was vast,

28
00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:25.120
<v Speaker 1>but she felt even vaster, like she was standing in

29
00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:28.960
<v Speaker 1>two worlds at once. The memory of Jake crossing the

30
00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:32.280
<v Speaker 1>wall would not let her go. She could see it again,

31
00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:36.639
<v Speaker 1>the light bending around him, the way the shadows kissed

32
00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:40.960
<v Speaker 1>his spine, the wings that look in his eyes when

33
00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:45.159
<v Speaker 1>he said, because love had to take form, and it

34
00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:49.080
<v Speaker 1>chose you. Her eyes stung. She whispered into the night,

35
00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:52.879
<v Speaker 1>not knowing who would hear her. Why do I remember

36
00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:56.840
<v Speaker 1>you like a dream? I never wanted to wake from

37
00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:01.639
<v Speaker 1>a soft breeze shifted behind her. She didn't need to turn.

38
00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:08.319
<v Speaker 1>Did you follow me? No, Jake said, his voice just

39
00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:13.960
<v Speaker 1>behind her shoulder. The willow told me. She closed her eye.

40
00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:22.360
<v Speaker 1>You shouldn't be here, and yet I am. She turned then, slowly,

41
00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:27.800
<v Speaker 1>meeting the crimson flicker in his eyes. Why me, Jake,

42
00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:33.080
<v Speaker 1>why does this feel older than time? He looked, pained,

43
00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:41.400
<v Speaker 1>because it is? Her voice trembled. What are we? Fire?

44
00:03:41.479 --> 00:03:45.280
<v Speaker 1>In two forms? He whispered, two ends of the same flame.

45
00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:52.240
<v Speaker 1>Her breath caught. You crossed the wall, the wall of light.

46
00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:58.080
<v Speaker 1>You weren't meant to survive that? Jake stepped closer. I

47
00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:02.360
<v Speaker 1>didn't cross it to survive. I crossed it for you.

48
00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:10.560
<v Speaker 1>Silence stretched between them, thick and fragile, and then a

49
00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:18.040
<v Speaker 1>sound behind them, A door, a step, a presence. Brandon.

50
00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:22.800
<v Speaker 1>He stood in the doorway, the wind catching his cloak.

51
00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:28.720
<v Speaker 1>His jewel was set, his eyes storming. You always find

52
00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:34.959
<v Speaker 1>her alone, he said coldly. Jake didn't flinch, maybe because

53
00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:40.680
<v Speaker 1>she doesn't feel alone with me? ARMANI turned sharply. Please

54
00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:47.439
<v Speaker 1>don't do this. Brandon took another step. What are you, Jake?

55
00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:53.959
<v Speaker 1>A shadow, a specter, a mistake? Jake's voice dropped to

56
00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:58.480
<v Speaker 1>a growl. What I am? Is the truth she's been denied.

57
00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:05.519
<v Speaker 1>The air between them sparked. OURMANI stepped between them, hands

58
00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:12.759
<v Speaker 1>outstretched enough, please you, this isn't what I want. You

59
00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:18.120
<v Speaker 1>made vows to me, Brandon said, his voice shaking. You're

60
00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:24.439
<v Speaker 1>my queen, and yet her soul remembers me, Jake said,

61
00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:28.519
<v Speaker 1>eyes locked on our money. She looked at one, then

62
00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:33.240
<v Speaker 1>the other. Tears welled in her eyes. Brandon reached for her.

63
00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:39.399
<v Speaker 1>Your mind, OURMANI, we were chosen, we were blessed. Jake's

64
00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:44.560
<v Speaker 1>voice softened, almost broken. And what if that blessing came

65
00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:48.920
<v Speaker 1>from fear, from control? What if her heart was never

66
00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:54.360
<v Speaker 1>free to choose? Don't speak to me of freedom, Brandon growled.

67
00:05:55.360 --> 00:06:00.839
<v Speaker 1>OURMANI stepped back from both of them, Her voice cracked.

68
00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:07.839
<v Speaker 1>I don't know what I feel. Yes you do, Jake whispered.

69
00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:13.639
<v Speaker 1>Brandon's fists clenched. I've bled for you, ARMANI, I would

70
00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:19.959
<v Speaker 1>die for you, and I crossed dimensions for you, Jake said,

71
00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:27.759
<v Speaker 1>I gave up everything. Stop ARMANI shouted, and the balcony

72
00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:35.920
<v Speaker 1>trembled beneath her cry. Both men froze. She stood in

73
00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:43.279
<v Speaker 1>the space between them, trembling. Her voice was barely a whisper,

74
00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:49.439
<v Speaker 1>Now I need time. Neither moved. She turned her back

75
00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:57.920
<v Speaker 1>faced the stars. Please just go, no response, go, she screamed,

76
00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:01.319
<v Speaker 1>and her voice echoed into the dark, tearing through the

77
00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:05.759
<v Speaker 1>silence like a blade, and far beyond the palace walls,

78
00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:14.920
<v Speaker 1>the veil stirred, the wind changed, the stars blinked. Something

79
00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:17.279
<v Speaker 1>had been set in motion.