**Caspian's POV**

The letter arrived three weeks after Aria left the Academy, delivered by the same regional courier system that had been carrying reports about her territorial negotiations and pack leadership activities.

I stared at the Nightborne family seal for several minutes before opening it, trying to decide whether I was ready to read whatever message lay inside.

"From your mysterious former roommate?" Riven asked, settling into the chair across from mine in the Academy library where ...