Aria I woke up the next morning reaching for Cassian who wasn't there. My hand stretched across cool sheets, finding nothing but emptiness where Cassian's body should have been. For a moment, I wondered if last night had been a dream—the way his hands had moved over my skin, how he'd whispered my name against my neck, the feeling of completeness when our bodies joined. But the pleasant ache between my thighs confirmed it had been very real. The bedroom was silent except for the distant sound of waves crashing outside. I slipped out of bed, wrapping one of the sheets around my naked body. The hardwood floor was cold against my bare feet as I padded toward the bathroom. In the mirror, I barely recognized myself. My hair was a wild mess, lips slightly swollen and red from Cassian's kisses

