Chapter 17

• Aurora’s POV
• The moment I spotted Alec at the party, a cold dread seeped into my bones. I ducked my head and scanned the garden for an escape route. The darkness was my ally, concealing me for now, but I knew it was only a matter of time before Alec’s sharp eyes found me.
• Heart pounding, I discreetly moved toward a group of ladies engrossed in conversation, using them as a buffer. Alec had become a persistent thorn in my side, and just as I dodged one problem, another loomed ahead. I was exhausted, but I had to keep Lucian within sight. If I disappeared, his suspicions would only deepen.