Aria
Maya handed me a glass of lemonade just as a sudden chill spread through the air. It was subtle, like the kind of cold that makes the tiny hairs on your arms stand straight. She turned sharply, eyes narrowing.
“What is it?” I asked, my voice quiet as I looked around the room.
“Beta Adric Hale. Ryder’s family is here.” she said, and I didn’t miss the way her tone shifted. There was a weight to his name, and I felt it settle in the pit of my stomach.
I followed her gaze and saw a tall man enter the hall. He looked like he had been carved from steel, every edge sharp, every step deliberate. His black suit clung perfectly to his broad frame, and a deep scar ran along the side of his face, from temple to jaw. His eyes, cold and unreadable, swept over the crowd like he was evaluating e
