Chapter 38

Alaria

I found myself wandering aimlessly, my shawl clutched around my shoulders as my steps carried me through the east wing and back out into the courtyard.

Although I had no intention of actually rocking around, I found myself needing to roam. I found myself needing to clear my mind.

After everything that had happened these past few days, Liam, Claire, Anastasia’s tears, I couldn’t sit still. The air in my room felt heavy, suffocating. And I knew that I needed fresh air, otherwise I knew that I would be collapsing in a way that shouldn't be right, and neither for me nor for anyone that surrounded me.

So I walked.

And I just kept walking aimlessly as I got lost in my thoughts, as I got lost in the pain that I was feeling, as I realized and reminded myself of the truth that I was in. I was simply here for Anastasia and that was how things were going to be. She was his rightful daughter and keeping her away was not going to do me any good. B