Sunlight caressed Astrid's face as she stood beside Raiden, her jaw set. He glanced at her, concern flashing across his face, opened his mouth to say something, thought better of it, and turned away.
"What?" Astrid murmured. She kept her eyes on Myron, who was standing a few feet away. The Shadow Guard had one last ceremony for the recruits to attend before they were considered true members, and she was eager to get it over with.
"I'm worried about you," Raiden admitted quietly. He knew how cruel the Chamber could be and had been unable to sleep for months afterward. But Astrid had come out different. There was a steel in her eyes now, a sharpness that hadn't been there before.
"I'm okay," Astrid said, not looking at him. They hadn't spoken since the night prior, and she had no desire t
