Caspian’s POV

The afternoon sun slanted through the Academy’s tall windows, sharp and almost accusatory, as if it knew exactly how terrible my life choices had been up to this point. I should’ve been enjoying the calm after the chaos of last night’s trial, basking in the sweet relief of wards stabilized and students alive. Instead, my thoughts had latched onto one thing—and one thing only: the hairpin.

That blasted hairpin.

I remembered clearly giving it to Riven as a gift last ...