Chapter 124

ELIZA’S POV The tour ended in a good way, I guessed. It was night now. After the long day of playing tour guide, I finally found a moment of peace in the moonlit courtyard. The lavender bushes were in full bloom and their calming scent helped me relax more. The gentle murmur of the nearby fountain calmed my nerves, and I leaned back against a stone bench, closing my eyes for a breath. I had thrown my boots away and settled for slipper. I was no longer Eliza, the tour guide and Alpha. I was simply me again. For a while, I allowed the silence to fill my bones. "I was hoping I’d find you here," a voice said softly. I startled and looked up. Edmund stood at the edge of the path with his hands tucked behind his back. "Edmund," I said, surprised. "Shouldn't you be—" "Sleeping? Probably," he cut in, smiling "But I couldn’t sleep. Not without speaking to you. May I join you?" I hesitated. Then I nodded, gesturing to the space beside me on the bench. "Of course." He walked slowly, almost cautio