Alina’s POV
I didn’t cry anymore.
The tears had burned themselves out sometime between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m., leaving behind a hollow calm that scared me more than panic ever could.
That was when I knew I was ready.
I sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the mansion breathe.
The low hum of the central air. The distant tick of a clock worth more than my entire childhood.
Somewhere down the hall, Sebastian slept unaware that the life he thought he controlled was already slipping through his fingers.
I wiped my face, steadying my hands.
Think. Quiet. Clean.
I had learned long ago that escape wasn’t about speed. It was about preparation. Leo slept curled on his side, lashes resting against his cheeks, one hand clutching the corner of his blanket.
I crouched beside him and brushed h
