HA

tself known again. I hissed softly, gripping the wall for suppo

f to walk across to the other wing. The hallway felt longer than

d her ward, my palms

me imm

against her pillows. "Thalia!" she gasped, her vo

y leg. She froze. "Why are you limping?" Her

ent with my bike while working this afternoon," I said lightly,

ession s

e reached for me, her hands trembling. "I'm sorry," she whispered brokenly. "Thi

e pain as I took her hands in mine. They felt thinner than I

when you didn't have to. You fed me, clothed me, a

d eyes studying me like she was afra

ftly, squeezing her hands. "I've found a

wed. "What do y

an agreement with Alpha Cassian. Th

stiffene

. "No, Thalia. Please don't do that because of me. I don't want

we were eye level. "Don't worry, Aun

through her tears. "How can you be

. I tried to swindle him for compensation at

widened.

. "Even if he does hurt me, it's only for three ye

tretched

g moment, then slowly look

look. She

was nothing she c

f us uttered

•×•×

ftly and I call

ecting my call. He asked me to send my locat

n. The journey was calm, the engine's hum nearly serene, and I

front of me was gigantic, featuring lofty ceilings, gleaming marble

id. Its sheer elegance made my heart race even faster. The interior boasted a spaci

declined, retrieving my own bottle of water from my bag. I

ng the space, imbuing the room with a tranquil authority. His

t as I grasped the fo

tract marria

rough it. I could withstan

e with a steady hand and I

ment was

l mansion and I asked for permission

account shortly after, validating that what I

nd anxiety clas