IRIS
The door clicks shut behind me, muffling the soft hum of the hallway. I lean against it, exhaling a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. The silence of my room wraps around me, a stark contrast to the cacophony of the party.
"Iris?" Daisy's voice calls out, tinged with concern.
"I'm fine," I reply, forcing a steadiness I don't feel. "Goodnight."
I make my way to the vanity, the mirror reflecting a version of me I barely recognize. Eyes rimmed with unshed tears, lips pressed into a thin line, shoulders slumped under the weight of disappointment.
What did I expect? That Darian would see me, truly see me, and choose me over duty? Over Adira? The thought is laughable.
I reach up, fingers grazing the scar on my neck, the one he gave me. A bond formed in a moment of heavens-know
