Varin's pov
I watched Rivara storm out of the room, her furious footsteps echoing down the hall, each stomp vibrating through the floor like an aftershock of an earthquake I hadn’t even realized had hit.
What the f**k was she talking about?
My head pounded, a slow, merciless throb that made it feel like my skull was cracking apart from the inside. A dull ache radiated behind my eyes, the telltale punishment of too much alcohol and too little sense. I groaned, dragging my hands down my face, my skin hot, my mouth dry.
Memories from last night flitted through my mind in scattered, hazy fragments—blurred conversations, the sharp burn of whiskey, Rivara’s smirk, Zeraphine’s unreadable stare. But nothing solid. Nothing that explained the sheer rage Rivara had just unleashed on me.
What th
