Alexander’s POV
Joanne trailed behind me as we left the palace, her steps careful, like she was afraid to disturb me.
James and the others went ahead of us so they could scope out the forest as we walked. They had long disappeared through the tree lines after I told James that I didn’t need coddling.
Getting attacked the first time was an oversight, and I wasn’t going to let that happen again. He knows that I can handle my own.
When I looked over my shoulder at Joanne, her eyes were downcast, and she was playing with the hems of her ragged dress.
“Are you not pleased to be leaving this awful place?” I found myself asking her, not sure why I cared about her happiness, but it was clear she was anything but happy.
“I am,” she said softly. “But I have nowhere else to go. No other pa
