Octavia's Point of View
The morning sunlight filters weakly through the blinds when I wake, and for the first time in what feels like forever, my chest is not quite so heavy. It is not gone, everything that happened yesterday still lingers like a bruise, but the sharp ache has dulled. Maybe it was the sleep. Maybe it was the ice cream. Or maybe it was Clary, who is already awake and humming softly as she brushes her hair at her desk.
I push myself out of bed and walk into the adjoining bathroom, shutting the door behind me. The cool tiles against my feet wakes me up a little more. I strip down and splash water on my face before pulling on my chosen outfit for the day. Fitted jeans, a soft shirt, and a jacket with the Lunaris emblem stitched on the sleeve. I take a long breath as I study
