Returning to the castle, Lavinia retreated upstairs to her shared bedroom with Isaac. It struck her in that moment: the irony that they only were able to sleep as a pair in enemy territory. When she opened the door she saw Isaac was already there, asleep on top of the comforter. She paused for a second, watching his chest rise and fall peacefully.

All her stress from the moment before subsided as she watched Isaac sleep. The panic and urgency that had risen in her chest ...