Reyna's breath caught. A tiny sound. Almost inaudible. But I heard it because the rooftop was quiet and because I'd been listening for it since she'd kissed me outside the compound last night.
"Everyone else at the Academy looked at me and saw a ranking," I said. "A number on a board. An obstacle or an opportunity. Julian saw a target. The Sentinels saw a threat. Even the recruiters see a commodity. But you walked across that arena and looked at me like I was someone worth figuring out. Not my stats. Not my Aspect. Me."
Reyna's hands unclenched from around her knee. Her fingers found the edge of the concrete planter and gripped it hard enough that the tendons in her forearms stood out.
"You can't say things like that."
"Why not?"
"Because I'll believe you."
"Good."
