"Tristan is going to lose his mind when he sees what they did to you."

Michele's words echoed in my head as consciousness slowly returned.

I expected to wake up to Tristan's face. To his silver eyes filled with rage and concern. To his arms around me, holding me like he'd done after the council chamber incident.

But when my eyes finally opened, squinting against soft afternoon light, it wasn't Tristan sitting beside my bed.

It was Emma, the young maid who'd watched the pup for me. She was ...