Novel’s POV

After Alexei left, I retreated to my room. His question echoed in my mind, Could I stay with him? I wanted to say yes with every fiber of my being, but terror held me back. I knew those people. I knew how they operated, they would surely come back.

Since Maxillo failed to kill me, she would surely send someone else. What if they dragged Alexei into this mess? What if his protection of me ended up getting him killed? I shook my head violently, trying to throw the dark thoughts away.

“Breathe, Novel. Just breathe,” I whispered to myself, inhaling the scent of the room and exhaling...