Cassian’s POV
I found her in the quietest place possible.
The fundraiser was winding down, voices spilling through the hallways as people left in pairs and groups. My teammates were still in the main hall, laughing about stupid things that didn’t matter. But I couldn’t focus on any of that. My eyes had been on her all night.
Aria.
She didn’t hide tonight. She walked into that room without a scarf, without trembling, without bowing her head. She stood there, raised money like she owned the damn place, and left every single person watching her. She wasn’t the Aria I first dragged into this fake deal. She was different. Stronger.
And when she slipped out of the crowd, I followed.
She ducked into a side corridor, then into one of the empty classrooms. I gave it a beat before pushing the
