Aria Snow pov :
The adrenaline was a liar.
While the rogue’s blood was still hot on the marble floor of the ballroom, I had felt invincible. I had felt like a Goddess forged from starlight and absolute authority. But now, standing alone in the quiet sanctuary of the Rose Room, the adrenaline evaporated, leaving behind the fragile, bruised reality of my human body.
My jaw throbbed with a dull, sickening ache where the rogue had backhanded me. I walked over to the gilded vanity mirror and stared at my reflection.
My lip was split, a jagged red line breaking the pale skin. Dried blood crusted my chin. My white hair was a tangled mess. But the worst part was the dress. The magnificent, midnight-black silk and silver-scaled corset that had served as my armor now felt like a cage. The ri
