ARIA POINT OF VIEW

The halls felt colder than usual as I made my way to Thorne’s office.

Something inside me pulsed with the same cold dread.

It was the bond tugged telling me Thorne was not himself.

I stepped into his office the second Cairn opened the door for me.

Thorne stood with his back turned, shoulders squared like he was holding the entire room up by sheer will. His hands were braced on the desk, head lowered.

He looked like a storm waiting to break.

“Thorne,” I said ...