~ ZARA ~
I was almost out of the ballroom when Ash caught up to me, obviously more delayed by the crowds, trying to navigate his bulk through them.
But then he fell in alongside me, tense and prowling, like a lion.
"Zara? What's going on?"
"Nothing. I just… I need quiet. I need… I need to go back to my rooms."
Ash nodded, though his jaw was tight. I took his offered arm, though both of us were tense about it, and then we were walking.
Yet, it didn't ease my dread when we made it to the wide hallways on the other side of the ballroom to find them almost empty.
Ash spoke with the guards that were outside and made certain we were escorted through the halls, the murmur and hum of the gathering fading behind us until the space was so silent as we started up the stairs that I could hear my own breathing.
