Kimberly
I stood by the window of Kendrick’s study, the sunlight casting a faint glow on the wooden floors. My hands trembled as I clenched the fabric of my dress, trying to steady my breathing. Aiden’s voice, filled with anger and defiance, still echoed in my mind. He had been taken to the dungeon not because of any crime but because he had dared to stand up for me.
I closed my eyes, guilt washing over me like a tidal wave. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Aiden had only been kind, only shown concern for someone he still considered a friend. And now, he was paying the price for it—locked away in the cold, damp depths of Kendrick’s fortress.
Kendrick’s rage had been palpable. The way he’d looked at Aiden, his jaw tight, his fists clenched—it had sent shivers down my spine. But what haun
