~CASSIAN~She wasn’t at breakfast. That was the first thing I noticed - an absence that echoed so loud.The dining hall felt bigger without her. Colder, maybe. I told myself it didn’t matter, that I had a full day ahead and a meeting that would likely stretch past what my patience could tolerate. But as I sat there, coffee in hand, eyes on the head of the table where she usually sat silent but present, something in me itched.I set the cup down.“Where is Aria?” I asked without looking up as Dani passed behind me, carrying a silver tray.“She hasn’t come out of her room yet, sir,” she said gently. “I believe she’s still asleep.”Still asleep. That's strange. She was usually up early, or at least pretending to be awake when I saw her.“Did she seem ill yesterday? Maybe in the afternoon?” I asked before I could stop myself.“No, sir.”I nodded once, dismissing her. “Let her rest, then.”But I couldn’t shake off the thought of her tangled in blankets, lost in whatever dreamless sleep had
Last Updated : 2025-08-10
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