With Audrey walking out, the meeting finally ended. Austin and Alina walked hand in hand through the palace corridors towards the guest rooms the king had arranged for them.
Both were exhausted. Days of running, fighting, hiding, and bleeding had left them drained both physically and emotionally. The guest room with a lavish bed and fireplace felt like a royal suite after so many nights spent in forests and caves.
Austin closed the door and leaned against it for a moment, sighing heavily. While Alina sat down on the bed, her legs too weak to stand anymore.
"I never wanted this for her," Alina said after a minute, sounding guilty. "We disliked her for what she did… for how she tried to force everything. But seeing her break like that today… it hurt. We played a part in that. If we hadn't brought those documents… if we hadn't pushed so hard…"
Austin sat beside her and took her hand.
