No amount of stress Ruelle had endured before could measure up to this moment. Her heart paused for the briefest moment, and the edges of her vision began to blur.
King Septimus had just finished speaking, Hermes standing at his side with his head bowed in quiet obedience. Ruelle's eyes returned to where Lucian was and she realised this was a bad time.
Not here, her mind whispered in panic.
And when Lucian took a step toward her, she took a step back. It was small but he saw it. His gaze stilled before his eyes narrowed.
Ruelle swallowed. She hadn't meant to step back. Her body had reacted before she could think. She noticed something shift behind his eyes and she knew she shouldn't have.
She tried to think of how to fix it—when suddenly Edward stepped in front of her, blocking everyone behind him.
"What are you doing here? I've been waiting by the carriage this whole time—" He stopped mid-sentence, frowning. "And you were here?"
Ruelle hadn't moved, her features frozen.
