Zara's POV
I hugged my books close to my chest as I walked, my boots scuffing against the floor in a steady rhythm, but inside me there was no rhythm, only chaos.
I rounded a corner, lost in the tide of thoughts, only to stop short.
Talia sat perched on the window bench, light spilling across her frame from the fading sun. The moment she saw me, she shot to her feet like a spring, hands twitching, a guilty expression flickering across her face.
Before I could retort, her expression faltered. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her with an uncharacteristic carefulness. "Listen… I need to say something."
That instantly set me on edge. Talia rarely got serious. If she did, it meant something was really eating at her.
I straightened and crossed my arms. "Okay. I'm l
