Amara's POV

The ride from Senator Marchand’s office to the hospital felt longer than it should have.

Every sound, the hum of the tires, the faint whisper of wind through the window pressed against my chest like a weight I couldn’t shake off.

Marchand’s words echoed in my head like poison:

“Every deal has its price… and it’s time Cassian learns just how much his costs.”

By the time I arrived at the hospital, my heartbeat hadn’t slowed once. I stood outside Cassian’s room, ...