200
Emilia’s POV
The air inside the car felt heavy and suffocating as though the stupidity of my decision pressed down on every passenger. The convoy surrounding us—a caravan of SUVs loaded with Alaric’s men—only heightened my anxiety. Outside the tinted windows, the world passed by in muted colors, but my focus was on the knot in my stomach that tightened with every passing second.
“I still think this is a mistake,” Alaric’s voice crackled through the small earpiece I wore, his tone as sharp as the blade he always carried.
“I know,” I replied quietly, glancing at the driver, who kept his eyes locked on the road. “But I need to do this.”
He sighed audibly. “We’ll be right outside. If anything feels wrong, anything at all—”
“I know,” I interrupted. “You’ll storm the place. Just… trust
