Cassian's POV
I watched Lyanna disappear into the yard with Kieran, and something inside me snapped.
Not broke—snapped. Like a rope pulled too tight for too long, finally giving way.
She was planning something with him. Something dangerous. I could see it in the way their soul marks glowed in perfect sync, in the way Kieran smiled like a wolf scenting blood.
And I had no right to stop them.
I'd chosen duty over love. Politics over fact. Safety over fighting for what I wanted. I'd let them cut her into pieces and stuff her into someone else's skin, and I'd done nothing.
What kind of prince was I? What kind of man?
"You look like you're about to do something stupid." Commander Stone appeared at my elbow, arms crossed. "Please don't. We can't afford another political disaster."
