Chapter Sixteen

RPOV

Songs: Ride this Out by Imaginary Cities

The realization of what I had gotten myself into last night was enough to clear away any of the haze brought on by the whiskey, sobering me up faster than falling into a frozen pond. Which is why I was surprised by the sickening feeling overcoming me the next day. It must have been some kind of emotional hangover rather than physical. I guess that's what I deserved for acting like a complete idiot—not to mention desperate hussy.

I had sent one of the castle Guardians over to camp to let Belikov know he could sleep in as I would not be at one-on-one training this morning. I could get by a few hours under the pretense that something else came up, but I wouldn't be able to hide from him, or my responsibilities, forever. After talking to Victor about the almost Viking attack, which had been only mildly unpleasant thanks to my quick action with the extra guards, I stopped by Lissa's room and had her pull my hair up in tight braids and wore some