Naomi’s Pov

The next morning came too bright. Too loud. Too… normal. I hated it. Nothing inside me felt normal after last night. My whole chest felt like someone had pulled a thread loose and left it hanging, waiting for the rest of me to unravel behind it.

I dressed slowly, half-distracted, half-annoyed with myself. My hands shook a little when I buttoned my shirt. I told myself it was from the cold. It wasn’t.

When I stepped into the hallway, Cassian was already there.

Standing by the railing.

Drinking coffee.

He looked like he’d been awake for hours.

He didn’t hear me at first. He looked tired in a...