CHAPTER 17
He suddenly let me go, and I could feel his grip on my face fade as he pulled back. The movement was quick and shaky, and I could hear him trip a little as he grabbed the side of the couch to steady himself. It sounded like he had pulled his hand away from my face in anger or shock. For a split second, the room was quiet. Then I heard a gasp go through the space, followed by a loud, scary thought that wasn't mine. Something warm hit my face almost right away.
"My King, that's enough," Lady Valeria said quickly, her voice tight with fear and nervousness, as if she were trying to keep everything together even though it was already falling apart.
I heard something heavy fall to the ground in her voice. It was a dull sound, like something broken or dead hitting the ground. The n
