A Lesson in Survival

Her certainty wavered. 'Is he right? Am I really unprepared?' Aria thought.

For a moment, everything inside her shook.

Alaric watched her carefully, giving her a chance to argue.

Aria stayed silent.

He kept his eyes on her, steady and unblinking. "Aria, learning to use the connections and resources you already have is how people survive. That's how you gain what you want."

And Aria understood the