Aria’s POV

I couldn’t sleep, I was surrounding by people, friendenemies.

The bed might as well have been made of thorns. Every time I closed my eyes, flashes of Kael’s voice, his anger, the way everyone looked at me earlier—it kept crashing back in jagged waves. My body felt too heavy for the mattress, my mind too loud for the silence.

So I gave up.

Pushing the blanket aside, I slipped out of bed with careful steps. Maybe some water… maybe tea. Anything to quiet the storm clawing inside me. I padded into the hall, one hand pressed lightly against my stomach, trying to steady the roil of unease.

But...