The next morning, Emilia stood by the balcony, watching Daniel play with his toy cars on the rug below. The world looked calm for a moment, but calm never lasted long around Alexander.
She heard the quiet click of the door before she saw him.
Alexander stepped into the room, dressed in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up, the faint bruise on his jaw still there from the night before. He looked like the man she used to know, the man who once promised her forever, before the world stole him away.
“You didn’t sleep,” he said softly.
Emilia didn’t turn. “Hard to sleep when you’re living in a fortress full of secrets.”
He walked closer, stopping beside her. “I told you I’d keep you and Daniel safe.”
“And what about my heart, Alexander?” she whispered. “Who keeps that safe? You know I f
