MasukFor a moment, he just stared at me then, slowly, his expression softened again, like he was slipping back into a version of himself that knew how to win me over.“You’re really choosing him,” he said quietly. “After everything I did for you?”I let out a short, humorless laugh. “You didn’t do anythi
Aria’s POVThe infirmary was too quiet, not peaceful—never peaceful—but had this kind of silence that felt forced, like the walls themselves were holding their breath. The smell of antiseptic was sharp enough to sting my nose the moment I stepped inside, and for a second I almost turned back.Almost
For a moment, he just stared at me then, slowly, his expression softened again, like he was slipping back into a version of himself that knew how to win me over.“You’re really choosing him,” he said quietly. “After everything I did for you?”I let out a short, humorless laugh. “You didn’t do anythi
Aria’s POVThe infirmary was too quiet, not peaceful—never peaceful—but had this kind of silence that felt forced, like the walls themselves were holding their breath. The smell of antiseptic was sharp enough to sting my nose the moment I stepped inside, and for a second I almost turned back.Almost
Aria's POVThe feeling wouldn't leave, it followed me through lunch, through the reports stacked on my desk, through every conversation I barely paid attention to and no matter how many times I reminded myself that Damon could handle himself, that he had survived far worse than a day spent with Kade
Aria’s POVSomething in me refused to settle and I know that it wasn’t exactly panic, but if it was, it wasn’t the mind that made you shake or lose breath. It was quieter than that, sharper too, like a thread pulled too tight under my skin, waiting to snap the moment I stopped paying attention. Dam
“That’s generally how clothes work,” I muttered.“Still sarcastic. Good. She’s recovering.”I stared at Alina carefully because there was no hostility in her voice. That alone felt suspicious.“I came to see Aria,” Alina said calmly. “There’s a gathering in the east sitting room.”My stomach tighten
Aria’s POVFor the first time in days, the Packhouse felt quiet. I won’t say it was peaceful because peace never lasted long around the Rowans, but it was quieter. The corridors were no longer filled with healers rushing back and forth, and no one was watching me like I might collapse if I breathed
Aria’s POVRecovery felt unnatural, not painful or exhausting, just… wrong.By the next morning, I was already walking without assistance. Maeve kept checking my pulse every hour like she expected me to collapse at any second, but every time she examined me, her frown only deepened.“You should stil
I swallowed slowly. “Tell me what happened.”For a moment, he said nothing, then he leaned back slightly, his gaze fixed on the floor as if deciding how much to say.“Lex took me to Ghostshade,” he began quietly. “Maeve believed it could neutralize the poison in your blood. We fought half the forest







