Chapter 99

**ARIA**

The day stretched long and slow.

I stayed curled under the blankets, surrounded by snacks and pillows, alternating between naps and half-hearted bites of dried mango and crackers. The twins—or at least the idea of them—were already taking a toll. Every time I moved, it felt like my body was begging me not to.

I stared up at the ceiling for what felt like the hundredth time that morning, then picked up my phone and typed out a message.

Me: Movie afternoon? I'm dying of boredom.

Leila: I’m so sorry, sweetheart! Cassius roped me into a meeting with one of the witches from the European coven. Rain check?

Rosalie: I wish!! I’m elbow-deep in potion requests. Later tonight? I’ll bring cookies!

I sighed, dropping the phone beside me. I glanced around the room, hoping for something to catch my attention. Books lined the shelves—my collection, carefully chosen over the last few years. I sat up slowly and scanned the spines.

Read. Read. Read twice.

Nothing new.

A small, traitorous thought crept in.

I could ask Adam or Austin to grab some books for me from the library.

But I quickly pushed it aside. They were both busy, training with Fares and organizing shifts to strengthen the community’s defenses. They didn’t need to be interrupted because I was bored and needed something to read.

With a small groan, I swung my legs off the bed. I shuffled over to the wardrobe and pulled on a pair of leggings, a soft sweatshirt, and my most comfortable sneakers. I looked like a sleep-deprived potato, but at least I was dressed.

The halls were quiet as I made my way down to the library. I passed a few familiar faces—pack members, a couple of the witches from Rosalie’s group, and one of the younger deltas. I exchanged smiles and brief pleasantries, grateful for the human interaction.

The library, as always, felt like a sanctuary. The scent of aged paper and polished wood wrapped around me as I stepped inside. I breathed it in, feeling the fatigue momentarily lift from my limbs.

I wandered between the rows of shelves, fingers brushing gently over spines. A few titles caught my attention and I started a small pile near the nearest reading nook. The act of choosing books calmed me in a way almost nothing else could.

I was deep in the fantasy section when a voice made me freeze.

"Aria. There you are."

I turned slowly.

Caedmon.

He stood a few feet away, hands clasped behind his back, his expression almost too casual.

"I was starting to worry," he said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"You don’t need to worry about me," I said, forcing a polite tone.

He tilted his head slightly. "Still under the weather? You look pale."

"It’s nothing serious. Just a little virus, probably."

He stepped closer. "Strange timing. Right after Adam marked you. I would’ve thought you’d be showing signs of change by now."

I shrugged, keeping my features carefully neutral. "Everyone reacts differently, right?"

Caedmon studied me with quiet intensity. His gaze wasn’t unkind, but it was sharp—probing.

"Yes," he murmured. "But fatigue like yours is unusual. Even for a late reaction."

I tried to smile. "Maybe I’m just dramatic."

"Hmm," he said, eyes narrowing slightly. "And here I thought you were anything but."

It was like playing chess with someone who already knew your next three moves. Every word from his mouth felt carefully placed, every smile slightly off. I
reached for another book, trying to appear unbothered.

"Well, I’ll leave you to your reading," he said finally, but his voice was anything but dismissive. "Don’t overexert yourself."

I opened my mouth to respond, but a cheerful voice cut in.

"There you are!" Rosalie’s sing-song voice rang through the library. She breezed in, her energy like a gust of fresh air. "Leila’s waiting for us—and I told her I’d make sure you didn’t sneak back into bed without snacks."

She turned to Caedmon with a bright smile. "Hope we’re not interrupting."

"Not at all," Caedmon said smoothly.

"Great," she said, already collecting half my book pile. "We’ll get these upstairs. Movie night is officially back on."

I didn’t hesitate. I followed her out of the library, our arms full of books.

Once we were clear of the hallway, I let out a breath.

"He knows," I whispered.

Rosalie’s grin faded. "Yeah," she said quietly. "I think he suspects something too."

We didn’t say anything else.

We just kept walking.

When we reached the apartment, Rosalie dumped the books on the coffee table and turned to me.

"You really shouldn’t be walking around alone, you know."

I sighed. "I know. But I needed to do something, anything. I’m not used to being this... limited."

She nodded sympathetically. "It’s a big change. But you have to be careful. If Caedmon’s already poking holes in the story, we need to be two steps ahead."

I sat down heavily on the couch. "It’s like he can see right through me. He doesn’t believe I’m transitioning."

"Of course not. He’s a manipulator, but he’s not stupid."

"So what do we do?"

Rosalie looked at me for a long moment. "We keep acting like we believe the lie. Let him think he’s smarter than us. And in the meantime, we figure out how to make him irrelevant."

I nodded slowly, the fatigue creeping back in. Even this short trip had worn me out. I rubbed my eyes, already craving sleep again.

"Come on," Rosalie said, her voice soft. "Let’s pick a movie. Something light. Funny. No vampires."

I gave her a tired smile. "Deal."

As we curled up with a blanket and the movie started, I let myself enjoy the moment. Just for now. Just for tonight.