Chapter 17 A Small Pebble In My Shoes

• Carlos’s P.O.V.
• The scent of pine and damp earth welcomed me as I stepped out of the black SUV. The air here always felt heavier, thicker with the weight of responsibilities. Even so, returning to my office after forty-eight hours of imperial negotiation and ceremonial nonsense felt relaxing. But the tightness in my shoulders hadn’t eased yet. There were a lot of issues garnering my undivided attention.
• Beta Conrad met me before I reached the front steps, his face grim beneath the ever-present subtle. He never wore worry easily, but it was there, settled in the set of his jaw.