Cassian

This was getting dangerous. I needed to calm her down before she started digging too deep and discovered Azalea.

“Chiara,” I called, my voice gentle as I tried my best to sound hurt by her words. “You’re hurting me by saying this.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, guilt immediately replacing her anger. “But you caused this.”

I let a single tear slide down my cheek—a trick I’d perfected years ago.

“Oh!” Chiara gasped and rushed to me, wrapping her arms around me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have blamed you or suspected you. This is all my fault.”

Her whole body was shaking. “I was so scared,” she said, her voice...