PRIMUS ALEXANDER'S POV
Aquamarine shifted to leave, ready to excuse herself, as if this didn’t concern her, but I grabbed her wrist before she could take a step.
If she leaves now, she will crawl back to Katherine.
Her eyes snapped to my hand, then to my face, but I didn’t say anything. I just pulled her with me.
She flinched but didn’t resist. Her pace was slower than mine as she limped slightly, and I hated that I noticed.
We followed Levi out of the Order Room. He didn’t speak as we moved down the corridor, his steps clipped, tense. The air outside hit us like something spoiled. Thick. Dry.
Too hot for this time of the season.
I felt Aquamarine pause behind me.
He took us to the royal farm.
Then I saw it.
The earth was cracked.
Literally.
The crops that had been green ju
