Chapter 197

Emilia’s POV. I curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over my legs as I wondered about all the things we’ve come across about my mother. All the puzzles that only made my head go crazy instead of giving answers to all the questions I had. The air was quiet and still, save for the occasional crackle of the fire from the fireplace. Alaric sat across from me, a glass of whiskey in his hand, staring into the flames. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the tension in his shoulders and the way his fingers tightened slightly around the glass. He’d been quiet all evening, and that silence had stretched between us like a taut string, ready to snap.