Aria's pov

I wasn’t a fan of quiet hallways. Not at an Academy like this. Silence always meant trouble. Either someone was sneaking where they shouldn’t be, or something was about to explode. Sometimes both. My boots echoed against the stone floors as I made my way toward the training grounds. My muscles still ached from the morning fight with Lander, but apparently exhaustion wasn’t a valid excuse for staying in my dorm.

I rounded a corner and froze. Movement. Shadows sliding along ...