Cassian's POV

The silence that fell over our group was deafening.

We stood frozen on that rocky hill, staring down at the figure that should have been scared, trembling and desperate for rescue. Instead, she stood like a queen surveying her domain.

Verity.

But not the Verity I knew.

This woman wore darkness like a crown. Her gown—if it could be called that—was made of shadows that seemed to move with her breath, clinging to her form like living smoke. Her hair, once simply beautiful, ...