Chapter 19

• I Had Hardly Seen Stefano the Next Day
• Stefano had been scarce the entire day, preoccupied with the grim preparations for yet another attack. The thought of what he was orchestrating twisted my insides. I wrestled with the guilt of knowing I couldn't stop the bloodshed-and worse, that I'd remain a bystander to it all. Every moment spent trapped in this room only sharpened the edges of my helplessness, slowly driving me mad.
• Thankfully, I wasn't left alone with my thoughts. Two women dressed in plain gray robes were assigned to watch over me. They brought my meals and did their best to keep me from losing my mind within Stefano's warded chambers. The elder, Maria, had once served at Eclipse Pack's castle, and her younger companion, Chiara, was her niece. Their quiet but persistent company was a strange kind of comfort.