Of course, Roy was not the only one who felt light and free after having a burden lifted. At that very moment, far away in Austria, Aisling was still asleep because of the time difference, unaware that her lifelong rival-at least, that was how she saw him-had poached her beloved mentor and the head of her school.
The sky over Austria was already fully light. Clear birdsong from the surrounding forest echoed through a luxurious castle perched on a beautiful hill, yet amid such pleasant, lovely surroundings, Aisling's sleeping face looked anything but relaxed as she lay on her lavish princess bed.
Nestled in a swirl of velvet that looked soft and comfortable, Aisling had her eyes squeezed shut, her expression vulnerable and her head drenched in anxious sweat. Clearly, the girl who had just escaped the nerve-racking excitement of robbing a bank was now having some less than restful dreams.
As the dream deepened, Aisling's expression grew increasingly tense and pained, her entire body sunk into the soft, luxurious velvet bed. Before long, she began to struggle faintly and uncontrollably under the dream's influence. Nervous sweat had soaked her forehead, and her disheveled fringe clung messily to her smooth brow. With an expression as agonized as if she were giving birth, Aisling let out a startled cry at her nightmare and abruptly sat bolt upright amid the sweat-soaked bedding.
"What's wrong with me?"
The moment Aisling sat up, all those unforgettable images from her dream were wiped from her mind with a single click.
Sitting dazed on her luxurious bed, Aisling's mind descended into confusion for a moment. Sticky sweat covered her exposed, smooth skin, and her sleek silk nightdress had slipped from her shoulders onto her arms. Though she had been sleeping the whole time, she was now