Chapter 33

• Sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned, my heart pounding loud enough to drown out the silence. My thoughts churned, replaying every word I had said to Hadrian. Why had my question angered him so deeply? And, more importantly, was he still upset? I hoped not. Our relationship was already fragile, teetering on a delicate balance even without unnecessary conflicts. At least Lucian seemed less inclined to hold any prejudices against me. Without him, my job would have been exponentially harder.
• When morning came, it felt as though I hadn’t rested at all. I dragged myself to the sink and splashed cold water on my face—over and over—until I resembled something vaguely human. Not that I had ever looked particularly ethereal before. My relationship with cosmetics was basic at best. In twenty-five years, I’d never prioritized appearance. I had the theoretical knowledge, sure, but practice was another matter entirely. Standing before the mirror, I wrestled with my lashes, trying to keep them from resembling insect legs.
• Thankfully, Freya arrived just in time to rescue me.