Aria’s POV

Morning came with all the subtlety of a trebuchet to the forehead. My head throbbed in a way that made me question every life choice that had ever led me to this cursed Academy. The sky was pale and yawning, streaked with orange, but I couldn’t summon the energy to appreciate it. Caspian’s bed was empty, which immediately set off a series of catastrophic scenarios in my mind.

Did he run off with the intruders while I was sleeping? Probably not, that would be insane. Did he ...