Chapter 80

Laura POV

I’ve been in desperate need of a girly day out with Ava for weeks and anything to get out of the pack house for a breather.

A little retail therapy and some overpriced smoothies. I adore Ava’s company. Even when she’s bossy with our itinerary.

Everything is going perfectly until Maxwell’s panicked voice floods my mind, urging us to come home., His guards are on the way to meet us.

He doesn’t explain what’s going on, he says he’ll tell me when we get back. An unsettling feeling swirls in my stomach.

Now I’m filled with dread.

“Ava!” I yell across the packed market.

Her blonde hair flips over her shoulder with a beaming smile. “We’re going to miss it,” she murmurs. “Come on.”

This place is heaving. I never knew there would be hundreds of stalls and even more people coming down to buy all sorts of arts and crafts and different animals strung up by their feet.

“Ava, wait.” I push through the crowd. “Maxwell.”

“What about Maxwell?”

“He said we need to go home. I don’t know why