A R I A
The energy in the house is wrong.
Like something's buzzing under the walls, waiting to split open. Like the ground knows something we don't.
I'm already halfway packed, hoodie zipped, shoes on. I've got one foot out the door when Oliver stops me with a frown.
"Wait. You're leaving now?"
"Lucian's on his way," I say, glancing at my phone. "I just need to get out of here. The party's about to start and I don't want to be around when it does."
Karako swings into the hallway, phone in one hand and a look on her face that makes me pause.
"You guys," she says, not blinking. "Turn on the news. Now."
We pile into the living room, Clary already pulling up the live feed on her phone, casting it to the screen. Lucian arrives at that exact moment—perfect timing, as always—just in time
