4

AURORA'S POV

As I slip in and out of consciousness, the rain beats down on the pavement. I hear voices in the distance, some frantic, some subdued, but I can't hear them.

How long I've been here is unknown to me. Even though the cold has set in, I am immobile. The only thing I can do is twitch my fingers on the wet pavement.

"Aurora?"

It's a strange voice. Kind yet demanding. My shoulder is touched by a hand, and the warmth seems strange against my icy flesh.

"Miss? Are you able to hear me?

I take a strong breath and my lungs expand. My eyesight clears enough to see a lady crouched next to me, covering me with her umbrella thrown aside. Her worried expression looms over me. The puddles behind her reflect flashing red lights.

No.

Panic strikes. My body jerks away from her contact before my intellect can respond. I am unable to attend. I can't allow Cassian to discover me in this state.

I ignore the way my head swirls and get to my feet. "I—I'm all right." My voice is unconvincing and hoarse.

The female frowns. In the downpour, you fell to the ground. You must—

"I have nothing to need." I stutter backward, then backward again. My hair runs down my back and my dress sticks to my skin, but it doesn't matter. I really must go.

I turn, only to run into something hard. Someone.

My breath falters.

Cassian.

Strands of his black hair are stuck to his forehead, and his suit is completely saturated. Instead of his typical mask of control, he is wearing something that cannot be read.

He steadies me by holding onto my arms. "Aurora."

I push him away harder than I realized I could. "Avoid it."

His fists tighten at his sides as his gaze get gloomy. "You passed out."

"So?" My voice is brittle and harsh. "What makes you concerned?"

His face sparks with something. I don't wait to figure things out. He grabs my wrist as I try to shove past him.

"Stop, Aurora."

I wriggle out of his hold. "I've had enough of you." Even if my voice falters, I continue. "You were explicit. You don't care about me. Let me leave, then.

Cassian doesn't have an answer right away for the first time.

I make a cracked, hollow chuckle. "Not a word to say?" I step back. "That's a first."

He clenches his jaw. "Your thinking isn't clear."

"Oh, I think more clearly than ever before." I can't help but put a hand to my stomach out of a protective impulse. "I am fully aware of my current position."

I anticipate that he will laugh and brush me off as usual. Instead, for a brief moment, his eyes dart downward. He glances back up, and his eyes change in some way.

He calls out, "Come home."

I blinked. "What?"

He lets out a breath, as if the words are alien to his tongue. Rain is falling. You're— As he looks at me, he notices my wet clothes and my shaking hands. "Come home, please."

I almost choke on the ridiculousness of it. "Home?" I can hardly raise my voice above a whisper. "You still believe that I call that place home?"

His jaw muscle twitches. "Aurora—"

"No," I interrupted, moving closer to get a good look at all he's done and everything he's damaged. "This is not yours to do. After what you said, you can't pretend to care.

He twitches his fingers as if he wants to grab me but stops himself.

I give a headshake. "Cassian, I don't need your worry. I no longer need anything from you.

We stand in the rain for a time, the distance between us growing in ways I know can never be healed.

Then I turn slowly and leave.

And he lets me leave this time.

---

CASSIAN'S POV

It's still raining.

With my hands balled into fists at my sides, I watch her go into the darkness.

I could pursue her.

I ought to.

However, I don't.

Rather, I let out a quick breath while running a hand over my moist hair. I can hardly feel my clothing sticking to me.

"She has no meaning for me."

I can't help but be taunted by the comments that reverberate back at me.

It was essential, I told myself. That if you spoke it out, it would be true.

However, the way she recently looked at me, as if she had finally given up—

I was affected by it.

It bothers me.

None of this appeals to me.

I take a deep breath and take out my phone, dialing a number.

After two rings, a voice asks, "Mr. Viero?"

"See where she goes." I speak with efficiency and coldness—let's get down to business. Let's go back to what I know. "And let me know about everything."

A pause is followed by a tentative, "Comprehensive."

I end the call.

And I feel like I'm losing control for the first time in years.

---

AURORA'S POV

I keep going till my legs are almost exhausted.

I have no idea where I am.

The city seems both too huge and too empty as the streets blend together.

However, none of that is important.

Because I've already decided.

I ground myself by touching my tummy.

This kid, my child, will not grow up in an unwelcome environment.

Cassian wrecked me, and I won't allow him to harm them.

Even when a strong wind gusts against me, I remain unflinching.

I am aware of what I have to do.

I'm going.

Permanently.

However, it won't be simple to get away from Cassian Viero.

And I have a feeling—

He isn't going to let me go easily.