As soon as they were dismissed, Dhalia cast one last secret look in Kaius’s direction.
He hadn’t noticed her lingering gaze, too caught up in his own thoughts, his sharp eyes scanning the room like a predator assessing his surroundings. That was good. The more he was distracted by other things, the better.
Then, without hesitation, she turned and rushed toward her room.
She walked swiftly but with controlled grace, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention. The moment she crossed the threshold and shut the heavy wooden door behind her, her body gave out.
Her legs collapsed under her, and she slid down the door, gasping as pain pulsed through her limbs.
The moment of reprieve allowed her to acknowledge what she had been suppressing, the dull, aching pain that wracked her entire body.
