°•♡Chapter 123

Two days had passed since our return to the Citadel, and I’d barely had time to breathe.

Meetings. Reports. Planning. Always something needing my attention, my presence, putting things back in gear. Ronan had been even more restless than usual, sharp with his words and sharper with his silences. I knew why. But neither of us was ready to speak about it.

And there were complications.

Cael was here.

Nothing felt safe anymore. Not even my own mind.

So, that morning, I excused myself. No council. No Ronan. No Cael. No anything but fresh air and the orchard where the twins had gone earlier with Ansel. I needed to see their faces. Feel something that didn’t hurt.

I took the long path through the courtyard. I was halfway to the orchard when I saw him.

Lucien.

I stopped short.

“You know,” I said flatly, “I really need to speak to the guards about just letting people wander in.”

He didn’t move. “I’m not a stranger here, Aria.”

I gave him a long, cold look. “You're not exactly welcome either.”