Lira's Pov
The weight of the evening pressed against my chest as I walked beside Alera, my mind tangled in the mess of emotions Zane had left behind. It was impossible to miss how withdrawn he had been, how the shadows under his golden eyes seemed darker than ever. I had seen it before—his silence, his avoidance, the quiet mourning that clung to him like a second skin.
And I knew why.
Zane wasn’t just moody. He was grieving.
I wanted to tell Alera. To explain why his pain ran so deep, why it shaped the way he carried himself like a man permanently walking the edge of a blade. But where would I even start?
We stepped through the worn path leading back to the main grounds, the cool night air brushing against my skin. Alera walked beside me, her sharp eyes scanning my face with curiosity
