XANDER
I stood where the whirlwind had dropped me off, staring into the dense fog ahead.
From this spot, I only needed to take a few steps to return to Katharina’s domain—yet the distance between us had never felt greater.
Just as I feared, she hated me for lying to her.
For deceiving her.
In her eyes, every action I had taken would now be tainted by suspicion.
Even offering her my blood—something I had done with pure intentions—would become proof of ulterior motives.
That… was the price of deceit.
A sharp ache struck my chest without warning, stealing the breath from my lungs. I pressed a hand over my heart, my jaw tightening.
Will I ever be able to regain her trust?
Or worse—
Will I ever see her again?
For a brief moment after my cover was blown, I had considered telling her
