Chapter 51. The Plan Ends?

Ally's POV

"Out here, love," I call back, the endearment tasting like ash on my tongue. It's a mask I've learned to wear well, a disguise necessary for survival.

The hefty folder, laden with secrets that could dismantle Nathan's meticulously crafted facade, presses against my side, hidden beneath the flowing fabric of my dress. My heart beats wildly, a frantic drumming that echoes Dawn's restless pacing within. This is it- the culmination of whispered promises and stolen glances exchanged with shadows in darkened corridors.

As I step out of the study, I'm careful to let no hint of triumph or trepidation colour my expression. The grand hallway stretches before me, its opulent emptiness a stark contrast to the chaos churning inside me. The Luparian Kingdom, with its grandeur and deceit, has been both a prison and a stage. Poppy Hale, with her feigned innocence and Niamh's cunning spirit, played her part well, thinking she&