ARIA’S POV

I didn’t know how long I slept, but when my eyes fluttered open, the sky outside was already slipping into darkness. Through the window, I saw faint lights strung across the grounds, glowing like fallen stars. The air itself seemed charged, humming with anticipation.

So this was it, I whispered to myself.

I moved to the closet, fingers brushing over fabrics until I pulled out the dress. Sitting before the mirror, I combed through my hair, styling it as Kael loved. Just ...