{ Avina }
I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.
You’re trapped. You’re trapped and no one knows where you are.
I tried to close my eyes. Tried to sleep. But every time I did, I saw the rogue’s face. Felt his weight on top of me. Heard Dutton’s voice accusing me of assassination. I rolled onto my side. Then my back. Then my other side. The room was too quiet. Too still. The silence pressed down on me like a physical weight.
Hours passed. I watched the moonlight shift across the floor, marking time in silver streaks. My mind wouldn’t stop. Every creak of the estate made me tense. Every distant footstep made my pulse spike.
What if they change their minds? What if Dutton convinces the King I’m guilty? What if I’m thrown in a cell?
I sat up
