Aeris’s pov
My heart pounded in my chest as we crossed the borders into the northern territory, the cold air biting at my skin even through the thick layers of my cloak. Each passing moment drew us closer to Nathaniel’s palace, and with every jolt of the carriage, I could feel Arabella’s tension growing. She sat rigid beside me, her face pale and unreadable, a stark contrast to the calm, composed advisor she usually portrayed.
If Caspian hadn’t ordered her to accompany me, I was certain Arabella would’ve found some excuse to stay behind. She’d been desperate to avoid this, but why? Caspian had spent months questioning her loyalty, and yet now, when it mattered most, he had insisted she join me. His sudden shift in judgment gnawed at my mind. What did he know that I hadn’t yet uncovered?
