Aria pov

The sound that dragged me out of sleep wasn’t gentle. It was loud voices layered over each other, sharp and ugly, like the house itself was shaking. I sat up with a frown still half tangled in the sheets. Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains but it did nothing to soften the chaos downstairs. My head was pounding from the noise.

I splashed water on my face quickly and tied my hair back with the first band I could find. I didn’t bother looking perfect. Whatever was happening downstairs sounded more important than mascara or polished hair. My legs carried me fast down the stairs until I reached...