CRYSTAL POV
My throat tightened painfully.
I picked up the protein bar and unwrapped it slowly, mostly to give my hands something to do while I processed her words. The first bite tasted like cardboard, but I forced myself to chew it anyway.
Mara watched me eat for a moment before speaking again.
"You should try to sleep soon," she said softly. "Tomorrow might be harder with Elena in charge. She doesn't seem like the type who would go easy on student. I'm sure she would rule like a tyrant."
I nodded, even though sleep felt impossible right now. My mind was spinning with too many questions.
"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked after swallowing the bite. "You could have stayed quiet like you always do. Why risk speaking to me now?"
Mara gave a small, almost sad s
