Chapter 210

• Emilia’s POV
• Francesca’s laughter was the sweetest sound I’d heard in days. She sat cross-legged on the floor of the living room, surrounded by a fortress of pillows and blankets Alaric had helped her build this morning. She was still a little pale, but the fever had broken overnight, and her energy seemed to return with every hour.
• I leaned against the doorway, watching her pretend to serve tea to her stuffed animals. Alaric sat nearby, awkwardly holding a tiny porcelain cup, his large hands looking almost comical against the delicate dishware.