I didn’t sleep that night.
Just lay in bed staring at the ceiling while Tessa snored softly across the room. My phone sat on my nightstand. Dark. Silent. Waiting for the decision I had to make by nine o’clock.
Take Marcus Blackthorn’s money. Stay away from Lycian. Keep my scholarship and actually help Aunt Clara.
Or refuse. Lose everything. For what? A guy I barely knew who thought we were mates?
The choice should have been obvious.
But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lycian’s face in that lobby. The way he’d looked at me. Like I’d hurt him worse than any physical blow could.
My phone buzzed at six in the morning.
A text from Aunt Clara.
How are you, sweetheart? You haven’t called in a few days.
Guilt twisted in my stomach. I’d been so wrapped up in this mess that I’d barely ta
