Chapter 52

Alaria

I didn’t even remember walking this far into the garden. My thoughts had been a storm all day, each one spinning faster than the next, and I needed space, space from him, space from all of it… because I knew damn well if I stayed long enough, I was going to either say or do something that I might end up regretting.

The evening breeze was cool against my face, carrying the scent of pine and earth, calming the edge of my fury. My arms were crossed tightly over my chest, nails biting into my skin, grounding me in the whirlwind inside my head.

Of course, he followed.

“Alaria.”

Just my name on his lips was enough to snap the fragile thread holding my temper. I spun around, eyes blazing.

“Don’t,” I hissed. “For once, I'm going to tell you to just leave me alone because I need a break from all of this. I do not need you to keep bombarding my presence whenever I am trying to be alone, only for you to turn your back on me the second that