CHAPTER 24

I stormed down the hallway, my father's cruel words still echoing in my head. The rage simmered beneath my skin, twisting my insides, but I clenched my jaw and forced myself to keep moving. The world outside could go to hell—I needed to get to my bedchamber, I needed to shut out the world and find some small semblance of control before I lost it completely.

As I pushed open the door to my bedchamber, I froze.

Thane was standing beside the window, his tall figure half-shadowed by the dim light filtering through the curtains. His arms were crossed, but the moment he heard me enter, he turned, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I snapped, my voice sharp enough to cut through the tension. "How did you even get in?"

Thane scratched the back of his head awkwardly, looking almost sheepish. "I, uh... snuck in."

"What?" I blinked, disbelief lacing my words. "Snuck in?"