Chapter 61

Alistair’s POV

I’d just finished my evening bath and stepped into my room, the towel still wrapped snugly around my waist. Steam curled in the air, and for a moment I lingered, savoring the warm afterglow on my skin. After drying off, I slipped into a pair of soft flannel pajamas—pale blue stripes against white cotton—that felt gentle and comforting. I brushed my damp hair back with my fingers, then took a slow, quiet breath, reminding myself of why I was here. I wanted to talk to her before the night grew deeper, before the house settled fully into sleep.

Carrying that hope, I walked down the narrow hallway toward her room. The wooden floorboards creaked softly underfoot, and the faint light from the landing lamp painted long shadows on the walls. I reached her door and knocked gently, half expecting her to answer right away. But there was no reply. I tried again—one tap, then two—nothing.

After a moment, I turned the knob quietly and stepped in, slipping i