*Natalia*

I wept the entire drive home after my all-too-brief meeting with Tallon. I managed to hold it together until I got to the car because I didn’t want the guards to see me so vulnerable, but the moment I was safe in the back seat, I fell apart.

I was thankful that my driver pretended not to notice. I don’t know how I would have reacted if he asked me if I was okay.

How could I be okay after seeing Tallon under these conditions? ...