ARIA'S POV
I sat in the front seat of a car I never thought I’d ever touch, much less ride in. The leather seats were so clean they squeaked when I shifted. My fingers were tangled in my lap, thumbs moving over each other nervously. I didn’t look out the window. I didn’t say anything. I just stared at my hands, trying to breathe evenly, trying to understand how this was real.
Cassian was driving. Himself. He said he didn’t want anyone else around. Said we needed privacy. I knew what he meant...this thing between us was a secret. No one else could know that our mate bond wasn’t real. At least, not in the way it should’ve been.
I could feel his eyes on me every couple seconds. He wasn’t being obvious, but I could tell. He was trying to read me, trying to figure me out. Probably wondering
