Rin's sandals slapped softly against the uneven stone path as she made her way back toward the imperial palace.
The sky had turned amber, casting long shadows across the street, but her mind was far too distracted to appreciate any of it.
She clenched her jaw, fingers twitching at her sides.
The image of Nova standing so close behind Amari played over and over in her head.
His hand on Amari's arm, his voice soft, his breath brushing her skin—Rin had seen the way Amari's body trembled, the flush on her neck.
Disgusting.
No—unfair. That's what it was.
Rin bit her lip hard.
She shouldn't care. She didn't care.
And yet… she couldn't shake the rising tightness in her chest. What if she had walked in a moment later? What would they have been doing?
What did Amari think was going on between them? That she mattered? That she had a place next to Nova?
Rin scoffed and picked up her pace.
As she reached the market square, the air shifted.
