Aria’s POV.
By the time I made it to my room, the tears I had been holding back spilled over, hot and relentless. I slammed the door behind me, leaning against it as my chest heaved with the effort of trying to breathe through the pain. My hands trembled as I wiped at my cheeks, but it was no use. The tears kept coming, and the ache in my chest only grew heavier.
Why did it always feel like I was trying to fight a battle I could never win? Zander’s words replayed in my head on an endless loop, cutting me deeper with every repetition. *”Kael died because of you.”* The accusation, the anger in his voice, the way he looked at me like I was something he regretted-it was too much.
I sank down onto the edge of the bed, burying my face in my hands as sobs wracked my body. I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, crying into the dark silence of my room, but eventually, the weight of it all became too much to bear alone.
I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand, my fingers shaking as I unlocked the screen. There was only one person I wanted to talk to, one person who could make this unbearable loneliness feel a little less suffocating.
I dialed Sarah’s number, holding the phone to my ear as I tried to steady my breathing. It rang twice before her familiar, cheerful voice answered.
“Aria? Are you okay?” she asked immediately, concern lacing her tone.
I sniffled, wiping at my cheeks again. “I’m fine,” I lied, though my voice cracked, betraying me. “I just… I wanted to see if you’d meet me for breakfast tomorrow. I could really use some company.”
“Of course,” she said without hesitation. “Are you sure you’re okay, though? You sound… upset.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said softly, though I didn’t believe it myself. “I just need to get out of here for a bit. Maybe we can have breakfast together at the castle garden?”
“Absolutely. I’ll be there first thing,” she said, her voice warm and reassuring. “And Aria? Whatever’s going on, we’ll figure it out, okay? You’re not alone.”
Her words made my chest tighten, but this time it wasn’t from pain-it was from gratitude. “Thanks, Sarah. I’ll see you in the morning.”
After hanging up, I curled up on my bed, pulling the blanket over me like it could shield me from the world. Sleep came slowly, fitful and full of fragmented dreams that left me more exhausted than rested.
—
The next morning, Sarah arrived right on time, her bright smile and infectious energy almost enough to lift the heaviness in my chest. She practically skipped into the garden as I waited at one of the round stone tables surrounded by blooming flowers.
“Good morning!” she chirped, setting her bag down on the chair beside mine.
I managed a small smile. “You’re way too cheerful for this early.”
“You should try it sometime,” she teased, pouring herself a cup of tea from the pot the servants had left on the table. “Maybe it’ll help with that permanent scowl you’ve been wearing lately.”
I rolled my eyes, but her lightheartedness was infectious. Slowly, I felt the weight on my chest begin to ease as we settled into easy conversation.
Breakfast had just been served-a spread of freshly baked pastries, fruit, and eggs-when Zander appeared. He strode into the garden like he owned it, which, of course, he did. His presence seemed to fill the space instantly, and I found myself sitting up straighter, my heart beating just a little faster.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice smooth as his eyes flicked between me and Sarah.
“Morning,” Sarah responded quickly, her tone bright and a little too eager.
I glanced at her, noticing the way her cheeks flushed slightly as she smiled at him. She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, her movements deliberate, calculated.
Zander pulled out a chair and sat down at the table, his attention shifting to the food before him. “I hope I’m not interrupting,” he said, though there was a faint smirk on his lips.
“Not at all,” Sarah said quickly, leaning forward slightly. “We were just enjoying this beautiful morning. You picked the perfect spot for breakfast.”
Her voice was sweet-too sweet-and I couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes lingered on him. The way she tilted her head just so, her expression almost… inviting.
I felt a pang of something sharp and unwelcome twist in my chest. Jealousy.
Why was I jealous? I didn’t want Zander. Not really. But watching Sarah flirt with him so blatantly, seeing the way she looked at him like he was the sun and the stars-it made my blood boil.
“He certainly knows how to make an entrance,” I said, my tone sharper than I had intended it to be. The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I immediately regretted how pointed they sounded. But I couldn’t help it-just the sight of Zander walking in with that confident stride of his set my nerves on edge.
Zander raised an eyebrow at me, clearly catching the edge in my voice. His smirk widened ever so slightly, a subtle but infuriating response that only fueled my irritation. “I wasn’t aware my arrival would cause such a stir,” he said coolly, his tone dripping with amusement, as if this were all some kind of joke to him.
Sarah, as if on cue, let out a soft, melodic laugh that grated on my already fraying nerves. She brushed off my comment like it was nothing, her focus squarely on Zander. “Oh, it’s always nice to have company,” she said smoothly, her eyes locking onto his in a way that made her intentions painfully clear. “Especially when the company is as… commanding as yours.” Her voice dipped slightly on the word “commanding,” and I felt my grip on my teacup tighten reflexively.
I nearly choked on my tea. Did she seriously just say that? Right in front of me? My stomach twisted uncomfortably, and I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. Was she really going to turn this casual breakfast into her personal audition to impress Zander?
Zander didn’t respond to her flirtatious comment, but the faint amusement in his expression was enough to make my irritation spike. The slight curve of his lips, the way his eyes gleamed-it was all too much. He might not have said anything, but he wasn’t exactly discouraging her either. I wasn’t about to sit here and let Sarah turn this meal into some ridiculous competition.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I leaned closer to Zander. My hand moved instinctively, resting lightly on his arm. “Good morning, Zander,” I said, my voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness. I leaned in just a little further, closing the distance between us, and before I could second-guess myself, I pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
The reaction was immediate. Zander stiffened slightly under my touch, his body going rigid as if he hadn’t expected me to be so bold. His eyes widened, the usual confidence in his expression giving way to surprise as he turned to look at me. I could feel Sarah’s gaze burning into us, her once-confident laughter faltering mid-note. When I glanced her way, I didn’t miss the flicker of confusion-and something that looked suspiciously like disappointment-on her face.
“There,” I said casually as I pulled back, my hand still resting on Zander’s arm for a moment longer than necessary. I gave him a smug smile, my heart racing but my expression calm. “You looked like you needed a little cheer this morning.”
Zander blinked, clearly trying to process what had just happened. His lips parted slightly before he finally managed to speak, though his voice was uncertain. “Uh… thanks?” he said, his tone almost questioning, as if he wasn’t entirely sure how to respond.
Sarah’s reaction was far less subtle. She crossed her arms over her chest, her smile now strained and forced. “Well,” she said, her voice tight and clipped, “that was… unexpected.”
I shrugged, picking up my teacup as if nothing had happened. I sipped at the warm liquid, my movements slow and deliberate, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. “I just thought he could use a little reminder of how appreciated he is,” I said lightly, my tone casual even as my heart pounded so hard I was sure they could both hear it.
Zander’s gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than I expected. His expression was unreadable, his usual smirk absent as he studied me with an intensity that made my stomach flip. But then, just as quickly as the moment came, he turned back to his plate, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips once more.
The rest of breakfast passed in a tense, awkward silence. Sarah’s usual chatter-the kind that filled every quiet moment with unnecessary commentary-was noticeably absent. Instead, her words were replaced by stiff, polite remarks that felt forced and unnatural. I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of victory, though I wasn’t entirely sure why. It wasn’t as though Zander had chosen my side, or even acknowledged what I’d done in any meaningful way. But Sarah’s reaction was enough to make me feel like I’d won something, even if I couldn’t put it into words.
When breakfast finally ended, Sarah and I left to head toward campus. She walked slightly ahead of me, her silence more pointed than anything she could have said aloud. I glanced back over my shoulder, unable to resist the urge to see if Zander was still there. Sure enough, he was. He remained seated at the table, his plate untouched as he watched me walk away.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like I had the upper hand. It was a small victory, but in this game of unspoken tension, even the smallest win felt monumental.