Kaine walks beside her in the corridor, the way he always does. His hands are tucked behind his back, his shoulders straight, his stride perfectly matched to hers. To anyone watching, nothing is different. They still look like the soon-to-be royal pair. The future Alpha and his Luna. Perfectly composed. Perfectly aligned.
But Bianca can feel the difference.
His glances are fewer now. When she speaks, he responds, but the replies are clipped. Neutral. His eyes do not linger when she smiles. He does not brush her hand when they pass through narrow halls. His voice holds no warmth. It is polite, practiced, and distant.
She keeps smiling anyway.
“I met with my tutor this morning,” she says lightly. “We reviewed historical court alliances. He says I’ve improved my analysis.”
Kaine nods. “T
