Aria POV

I sat cross-legged on the floor of my chamber, staring at the lone candle burning low on the nightstand. The flame sputtered every time the draft from the broken window sighed through, bending dangerously close to dying out, yet clinging stubbornly to its wick.

My fingers toyed with the hem of my sleeve, pulling at the threads until they came loose, considering that’s all I ever did here was ruin things just by existing.

I told myself I hated him, Kael, he is an Alpha and also a Tyrant. I said the words so often they should have been a shield by now, but somehow they weren’t. They...