Cassian's POV

The study felt smaller than usual.

Maybe it was because Verity stood near the window, her silhouette framed by the late afternoon light, making her look like something caught between shadow and gold. Or maybe it was because the air itself had thickened with everything we'd left unsaid for too long.

I'd asked her to come here. Alone. Just the two of us after our conversation last night when I asked her to stay, I eventually chickened out and decided to read dress what I wanted to ...