Chloe’s pov
I sat on the edge of my mattress, pulling my knees tight against my chest as the rain continued to hammer against the glass.
My body was still trembling, partly from the biting cold that had soaked through my clothes in the courtyard, and partly from the lingering heat of Nash’s hands on my waist. His scent seemed painted into my skin, refusing to wash away no matter how many times I rubbed my arms.
The door to my quarters creaked open without a knock.
Ray slipped inside, her face pale, her hands twisting nervously in the front of her apron. She locked the heavy oak door behind her, leaning her back against the timber as if she were holding off a storm.
"Ray?" I asked, sitting up straighter. "What happened?"
"It's Tabitha," Ray whispered, her voice shaking as she hurried
