Chapter 19

“Shh… I’ve got you,” he murmured, his voice a quiet anchor in her sea of anguish. “We’re inside now. You’ll be safe.” 

Alina’s eyelids fluttered open. She felt the world tilt beneath her as Killan’s arms clamped around her back and knees. Panic rippled through her: she had clearly overplayed this act. Mustering her breath, she croaked, “Where are you taking me, honey?” 

Killan’s stride never faltered as he angled toward the reception desk. “To the emergency ward,” he replied, voice steady but urgent. “They’ll treat you in a moment. Then, once you’re better, I’ll bring you home.” 

For a heartbeat, Alina’s relief warred with dread. If they reached a doctor, her feigned hemorrhage would be exposed, and every false tea