Aria's POV

Walking back to the dorms felt like trudging through quicksand. Every step reminded me that while everyone else was celebrating justice served, I was stuck wondering if I'd just watched a magic show where the real trick was still hidden up someone's sleeve.

The other heirs chatted excitedly around me, their voices bouncing off the stone walls like ping-pong balls. "Finally caught those idiots," someone said. "About time," another agreed. They sounded so relieved, so satisfied, like ...