KATHERINE
I was woken up far earlier than I wanted to be by the sound of the maids bustling around my room, opening the heavy curtains and letting the morning light hit my face. They informed me that breakfast was being served in the main dining hall, and since it was the weekend and I didn't have to worry about the academy, I actually had to be presentable. I dragged myself out of bed, my body still feeling heavy from the lack of sleep and the stress of the previous night, but I managed to get dressed and head out. I spent the walk down the long hallways bracing myself for another confrontation with Stephen, but when I walked into the dining room, I realized I could finally breathe.
Stephen wasn’t there.
His chair at the head of the table was empty, and I felt a massive wave of relief
