Gray’s POV

I followed the guard down the narrow hallway. He gestured toward the small room at the end, just a few steps from Aurora’s chambers.

When he opened the door, I immediately saw there were two rooms, one on either side of hers. Relief loosened the tension that had been locked in my chest all evening. At least she wasn’t unprotected here.

Inside, the guard poured me a cup of water from a clay jug and set it on the table between us. His movements were steady, careful, almost ...