KAIA’S POV
The meeting felt like it would never end. The elders kept whispering among themselves, worry clear on every lined face. But through all of it, my eyes kept drifting to Leander.
His shoulders were tense, eyes shadowed and distant. And then, without a word to anyone, he stood up and quietly slipped out through the side doors.
Something inside me—probably Lilac, or maybe just instinct—pushed me to go after him.
I left the hall quietly, hoping no one noticed. I found Leander standing there with his back to me and his hands clenched at his sides.
At first, I thought he was just trying to breathe. But then I heard his voice.
“ Not here."
“I can’t let it happen here…”
For a minute, I thought he was talking to himself, and I wondered if I should be worried. Until he spoke again.
