Rhea’s POV
Fear eats me alive before anyone even speaks.
It crawls up my spine, cold and sharp, the same way it did the day they dragged me to Eclipse Academy. Every time I blink, I see the ropes. The cages. The wolves are screaming. The way they forced obedience until you forgot the sound of your own heartbeat.
The memory sinks its claws into me and I start shaking. My hands tremble against my sides. My breath turns shallow. I feel like the walls of the boutique are closing in on me.
And as Sophia falls, fake, dramatic, intentional, my whole body locks up with terror.
Because I know exactly what this looks like.
I know exactly what they will say.
I know exactly where they will think..
Cassian moves faster as he lunges and catches Sophia before she hits the ground. He cradles her.
