Mara couldn't look at him during the pre-fight briefing.
She stood with the rest of Sunshine Squad in the staging area, checking her blades for the third time, adjusting straps that didn't need adjusting. Anything to avoid meeting Bright's eyes.
What did I do?
The question had been circling her mind since she'd left his quarters last night. She'd told herself it was comfort—that he needed someone, and she'd been there. But the truth sat heavier in her gut, like spoiled meat she couldn't digest.
She hadn't wanted Bright. Not specifically. Not the way it should have been.
She'd wanted to feel alive.
