The Mark of Loyalty

LYDIA’S POV

The heavy silence from last night still clung to my bones when Cassian opened the passenger door of his SUV for me after my final Tuesday class.

"Get in."

No greeting. No casual banter about how my lectures went. Just a steady, impenetrable stare that pinned me to the spot for a fraction of a second before I obeyed. I slid into the leather seat, the click of my seatbelt sounding ab