Mara arrived the next morning before anyone else in the building. She felt the weight of the night before with every step she took. The elevator hummed softly as it carried her to the top floor. Her heart beat hard enough to bruise her ribs. She expected Cassian to be waiting the moment the doors opened. She expected his voice, his eyes, his presence. She expected the same strange power she felt when he lifted her chin in his office and spoke to her like he already owned her breath.
But the hallway was empty when she stepped out.
Too empty.
The silence pressed against her skin. She walked to his office with careful steps. The handle turned in her hand. The room inside looked untouched. Cold. Perfect. The sunrise bled through the tall windows behind his desk. Its light reflected off the
