Child of Shadow and Light
(Althea POV)
She didn’t look back.
Not even when he called her name—his voice hoarse, laced with confusion and concern. Not when his footsteps echoed behind her, quick and uneven. Not when he nearly reached her.
“Althea, wait—please!”
But she couldn’t.
Her breath came in ragged gasps as she tore down the corridor, skirts trailing behind her like shadows. Her fingers fumbled with the latch to her door. It stuck. She shoved it open anyway and slipped inside just as Luca turned the corner.
“Althea!”
He was close.
She slammed the door and locked it, chest heaving, back pressed against the wood.
A beat.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
“Althea,” he said softly, his palm against the door. “Whatever you saw… talk to me.”
Her throat burned.
She couldn’t.
She slid do
