Chapter 68

Xavier

I can sense her.

The human girl.

She’s close.

Ares was panting within me, awoken with a sudden thrill. I felt him pacing, back and forth, back and forth, desperate for escape. Desperate to take hold of me and follow the trail of her scent.

But there was no way that was possible. Valerie should have left Salmere by now. Certainly by now, she had taken her coin and vanished, just as we agreed.

Though, I had hoped she would stay.

I had hoped she would agree to work as a servant in the castle instead. I had hoped she would find comfort…with me. I never expected she would make that choice, but I could not help but hope.

Of course, she chose freedom. And freedom meant I would never see her again. Which was…better. Surely, it was better.

It had been quiet in my study, before Ares’s obnoxious wailing. The Northerners had just left after hours of discussion about the celebration tomorrow, and I was enjoying the absence of their nagging voices in my ears. It was difficult to pr