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Jayden’s POV
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Jayden can feel his throat drying up like cracked earth under a relentless midsummer sun. Words gather at the back of his mouth, but they feel stuck, so he swallows, hoping to clear the tightness, but it only worsens.
Sir Elijah Whitemane, the current King’s Guard, is staring down at them with a frown and a look of disapproval. He crosses his arms in front of his chest and tilts his head to the side.
“Well? I’m listening.”
“I-I was sleep-walking, Uncle Eli.” Alys murmurs. “Jayden found me in the… near the gym… and… and he is helping me get back to my room because… well, I lost one of my slippers along the way.”
Jayden steels himself and fights the urge to look at her feet to check that one is indeed missing. Alys is lying for
