Chapter 28

• My heart felt like it was about to burst from my chest. If only the resistance knew about Stefano's plans... Alessandro and the others could help him strategize or support whatever he was scheming. For the first time in days, hope flickered inside me, mixing with a strange sense of relief. Maybe, just maybe, I didn't need to feel guilty for wanting to stay with him.
• Curiosity bubbled up, and I longed to ask more about the curse, but Stefano insisted we sleep. I thought about pushing him for answers, but weariness weighed down my eyelids until I finally surrendered to sleep.
• At dawn, Stefano woke me. We had to pack up and leave. The sounds of preparation from the camp told me the army was almost ready to march. Stefano gave me a moment of privacy to freshen up and change into one of the gowns, ridiculously unsuitable for battle, but all I had. Not long after, I found myself leaning against his solid chest, his arm wrapped firmly around my waist as we sat together in the saddle, his other hand guiding Regal's reins.