Catherine POV
I returned to the palace, taking the stairs to my uncle’s conference room at a run.
My body felt like one giant bruise after what happened at the airport.
After the attack that descended on us out of nowhere just after we got out of the plane.
The news I had to tell him burned in my throat. Along with unshed tears for the destruction I’d seen first hand as we drove through Royal territory.
I didn’t have time to cry, or to grieve for the lives lost.
Not yet.
“Uncle!” I cried, bursting into the room.
He looked up from the papers spread on the table before him, clearly in a private meeting with his Beta. It was late evening, and the rest of the room was empty.
“Catherine!” he said, standing up and hurrying around the table to greet me. “Where on earth have you been??”
