Zara's POV
The corridor outside Talia's dorm was alive with muffled laughter. My fingers tightened on the small, carefully wrapped gift I'd spent half the night preparing. A stupid scarf, soft cream wool, hand-stitched edges. Something simple, something I thought would make her smile.
But as I stood there, my knuckles hovering over the wood, I realized I was stalling. My throat was dry, my palms damp. It wasn't just a birthday gift I carried, it was a piece of myself, an attempt to say I'm still here, I haven't forgotten us, even as my life had spiraled into Zarek's orbit.
I forced myself to knock.
The laughter cut short like someone had pressed pause. Chairs scraped, hushed whispers rushed across the gap, and then the door opened.
Seraphine stepped out first, perfume shar
