Avery clung to her family, the warmth of their embrace soothing her battered spirit. “I missed you too,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “I missed you all so much.”
They stayed like that for a while, the room filled with the soft sounds of their shared relief and quiet sobs. Eventually, they pulled back, their faces shining with a mixture of joy and sorrow.
Amelia sat down beside Avery’s bed, her eyes never leaving her daughter’s face. “Tell us everything, Avery. What happened? How did you manage to escape?”
Avery took a deep breath, her mind flashing back to the harrowing days of her captivity. She recounted the ordeal in as much detail as she could manage, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. She told them about the rogues, the rogue lord, and the unexpected betrayal by
