He turned his head slowly, his dark eyes searching the room until they found me.

He looked at me for a long moment.

The coldness in his expression softened, just for a second.

“And they do not like men who try to murder loyal members of my household,” Alexander added.

I felt a sudden warmth in my chest, despite the freezing draft from the hallway.

He knew what I had done to protect him.

“Get him out of my sight,” Alexander ordered the guards.

“We will hold him in the cellar until the council arrives in the morning,” Marcus said.

The guards dragged Luca out of the study, his curses echoing off the marble walls of the hallway.

Santo followed them quietly, his head bowed, flanked by another guard.

The heavy door clicked shut, leaving only the four of us in the room.

The only sound was the steady, rhythmic drumming of the rain against the glass.

Alexander let out a long, shuddering breath.

His eyes rolled back slightly, and his knees began to buckle.

Marcus moved with surprising speed, catching Alexander under his arm before he could hit the floor.