CHAPTER 246
Alistair carefully guided Astrid to the edge of the bed.
The moment she sat down, she instinctively hugged herself. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably. Silent tears continued slipping down her cheeks.
Everyone in the room remained frozen in confusion.
From where they had been standing, all they had witnessed was the two women facing one another behind the runebars.
They had merely touched hands. Nothing else.
Yet Astrid now looked as though she had returned from somewhere no one else could reach.
Alistair slowly knelt in front of her. One hand rested gently on her forearm.
His voice softened. "Astrid."
She didn't answer. Her vacant eyes remained lowered, fixed on nothing in particular. It was as though she still hadn't completely returned.
