Chapter 73
Federico shut the heavy doors of his study behind him, exhaling deeply as if the weight of the world had been strapped to his chest. He leaned against the door for a moment, staring into the dimly lit room where piles of documents sat waiting for his attention. His thoughts wandered, not to treaties, lands, or coronations, but to Azalea.
Why had she been in the woods in her wolf form? What was she doing wandering around when danger lingered everywhere? More importantly, why couldn’t she look him in the eyes anymore?
He dropped into his chair, running his hands over his face. Their marriage had started on lies, a contract written in desperation. Azalea knew this as much as he did. Yet somewhere along the line, those lies had given way to something deeper. Something real. Somet
