Riverbend was the kind of place you passed through, not the kind you stayed in. Its cobblestone streets were always filled with market chatter and the familiar clink of coins, but there was a quiet calm about it—one that Aria hadn’t realized she’d been craving. For a moment, the weight of her new life lifted, and she felt lighter, walking through the streets.
She had put off this trip for weeks. Telling herself that she could make do with what she had—simple dresses and shawls. But Xander’s invitation, with the seal marked in blood, made it impossible to ignore. No more plain linen. No more hiding. If she was going to walk into the gala, she needed to do it with dignity, with presence.
The bell above the boutique door chimed softly as Aria entered. She hesitated for a second, caught by h
