All Chapters of From His Shield to His Nightmare: Chapter 21 - Chapter 23

Alaina’s POVIn the end, Cedric couldn't give me the healing salve himself.But the next day, the hotel manager mysteriously approached my father, saying an "anonymous Mr. Rothschild" wanted to sell a bottle of a potent, ancestral remedy at a high price, and asked if we were interested.My father saw through the clumsy ruse immediately but "bought" it without a word.That evening, as my mother applied the salve that smelled of Cedric to my knee, she sighed, "Why does he bother?"I didn't answer.Because I knew some debts, even if he wanted to repay them, I wouldn't accept.After the Alps, my family and I traveled to Tromsø, Norway, to chase the legendary Northern Lights.We stayed in a glass igloo where we could lie in bed and watch the stars.When the brilliant, ribbon-like green aurora danced across the night sky, everyone gasped in awe.I clasped my hands, closed my eyes, and made a wish for the new year.May the ones I love, and the ones who love me, be safe and happy.And may I, f

Alaina’s POVSpring arrived.The Florentine sun chased away the last chill of winter.Elsie’s clan, weakened by scandal and the imprisonment of their lord’s daughter, had lost its former glory and faded from public view.My life, however, was like the wisteria blooming outside my window, full of life and hope.My and Chiara’s magical art gallery, with the full support of my family, was finally about to open.We chose a location in an ancient building on the banks of the Arno River, once the home of a famous Renaissance mage.The day before the opening, I was personally arranging the final exhibition hall.The last rays of the setting sun streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm golden glow on the giant mural in the center of the hall, a depiction of the “Advent of Holy Light” that I had just finished restoring.Just then, I felt a familiar, cold surge of magic behind me.I didn’t turn around.“The gallery is beautiful.”A hoarse, weary voice sounded behind me.