Cassian POV
Morning came too quickly.
Silence descended upon us. No surprise attack. I didn't trust it.
I stood by the window, watching the city below move like nothing had changed. People walked. Cars passed. Life continued in a steady, meaningless rhythm.
Behind me, the soft clink of dishes broke the stillness.
They were awake. All of them.
I turned.
Sarafina sat at the table, shoulders slightly hunched, fingers wrapped around a cup she hadn't touched. Lyra sat across from her, unusually quiet—too quiet. Watching. Thinking.
Alistair stood near the counter, arms folded, his posture relaxed in that way that wasn't relaxed at all.
Guarding. Always guarding, like it was a permanent duty assigned to him.
I moved toward the table and sat.
No one spoke. The silence stretched long enough to become uncomfortable.
Then,
"Okay," Lyra said suddenly. Sarafina's head snapped up.
"No," she said quickly.
Too quickly. What is going on here? My gaze shifted between them.
