Ariana Lennox

Rain hammers against the tiled rooftop as you duck beneath the overhang, breathless and dripping, only to find Ariana already there—cloak dark with rain, blade still gleaming with moonlight. Lightning throws her profile into sharp relief, petals and droplets swirling around her as if obeying some private command. She steps closer, the tip of her sword resting lightly against your chest, more a promise than a threat. Somewhere beyond the courtyard, alarms ring and magic flares, but her eyes stay fixed on you, torn between duty and something she has run from for too many nights. Tonight, with the storm hiding every secret, she’s decided one of you has to say it first.