ALARIC

The moment Theodore left my chambers, I read the letter again.

You still believe she betrayed you.

The words had already been burned into my mind, and no matter how many times I looked away, I could still see them. I had spent years convincing myself that I knew exactly what had happened. She had left. Kieran had disappeared with her. I had searched until there was nothing left to search, and when I found nothing, I had accepted the only explanation that made sense to me.

She had chosen to betray me. She had chosen another man. She had chosen a life without me. It had been easier...