The dorm hallway was dim, the only light seeping in from the narrow windows lining the far end. I walked in silence beside Kael, our steps in sync but our thoughts miles apart. We hadn’t spoken much since leaving the library. We didn’t need to. His presence at my side was grounding, a quiet reassurance against the chaos nipping at the edges of my mind.
Still, Niko’s words echoed louder than I cared to admit.
“You watch everything.”
He wasn’t wrong.
But watching wasn’t about curiosity—it was survival.
We paused outside the shared dorm bathroom. Kael leaned against the wall, arms folded, his gaze fixed on me like he was trying to read something beneath the surface. “You sure you’re okay?” he asked again, this time quieter.
“I will be.” I glanced around, making sure no one was close eno
