Chapter 31

• Alaric’s POV
• When I agreed to let Emilia check on her brother, I didn’t expect to be dragged along. But somehow, I found myself standing outside the sterile doors of Matteo’s hospital room, the hum of fluorescent lights above and the lingering smell of antiseptics filling the air. Emilia was silent beside me, her shoulders tense. We hadn’t exchanged more than necessary words over the past week, and I intended to maintain that by all means necessary.
• Emilia stepped forward, hand already on the door, but she hesitated, glancing back at me. I could tell she was hesitating, probably rethinking the whole thing. I didn’t know why exactly she had asked me to come but now she looked like it was a bad idea. I kept my expression flat. I wasn’t here to comfort anyone. I watched her shoulders stiffen as she pushed the door open and stepped inside.