Chapter 16

Alaria

The courtyard was buzzing. It was always like this when news started to form around when it started to spread.

Whispers moved like wind through stone, maids with half-lowered voices, warriors glancing between one another, servants bowing too deeply whenever Liam passed. I didn’t need anyone to say it out loud.

The news was already flying around. And those who did not know were already aware.

I already heard…

Claire was pregnant.

And the child would be Liam Blackthorne’s heir.

A child that I knew was going to claim everything as his right.

I heard it again and again, like a drumbeat in my ears. Heir. Heir. Heir.

As if Anastasia didn’t exist. As if she hadn’t already bled his blood and carried his fire.

Yes, I knew that. I did not want her to carry any of that responsibility. She was far too young. She was a child. But there was going to come at a time when she was going to know who she was. And when that