For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
Catherine’s words wouldn’t stop looping in my head, each one colder and heavier than the last.
I’ve already taken the first step. You won’t have much time before everything you’ve built is destroyed.
I couldn’t move. The air in the room felt thick and stale, and for the first time in ages, I felt like I was about to tumble off a cliff I hadn’t even realized I was standing on. Everything Alexander and I had builtall the sleepless nights, the fights, the hopeit felt as fragile as glass. Like it could shatter if I even dared to hope.
Then I felt this hand, firm and grounding, curling around mine and squeezing just enough to bring me back to reality. I realized I’d been holding my breath so long it almost hurt to finally let it out. My lungs burned, but the world started to come into focus again, piece by piece, because he was there.
“Leila.”
Just my name, but the way Alexander said itlow, calm, but furious underneath like an anchor thrown straight i
