Eleonore’s POV

The walk back to my room was quiet, though less oppressive now that Lillian wasn’t here. I didn’t know what she wanted from me—well, no, I did. She liked Gael, a lot, and thought she was better for him, and in some ways she wasn’t wrong, but the fact was I loved him.

It sounded like a paltry defense almost, that love triumphed over everything else and could make up for any shortcomings that I had. That wasn’t how it worked.

What I ...