The night air was cool against Catalina’s skin as she stood by the balcony outside her small room. The sky stretched endlessly above her, the moonlight silvering the garden below. From where she stood, she could see the edge of the main mansion, the tall windows glowing faintly with light. Somewhere inside, Frederick was awake too. She could feel it, the pull between them, invisible but strong as ever.

She had spent the whole day trying to stay invisible, quietly helping the staff, keeping her head down, pretending she did not notice the way whispers followed her everywhere she went. Everyone knew what had happened. Isabella had been exposed, but...