Don’t Be Selfish

>>Aelin

My mind reeled with a thousand questions, none of them comforting. Why now? What did he want? There is no reason for him to come and look for me.

Except…

"I—I…" The words caught in my throat, trembling like trapped birds. I clutched my hands together, hoping it would ground me, but instead, I felt my nails digging into my palms. "I'm not feeling well," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I think I should rest."

Ariston's eyes narrowed, studying me with the keen sharpness of someone who didn't miss much. His gaze flickered from my trembling hands to my ashen face, and something shifted in his expression—concern, maybe, or suspicion.

"You don't look unwell, Princess," he said, his tone softening just slightly. "You look frightened." He stepped closer, "What's going on?" He glanced at Uriel, "Why does she look like she's panicking?"