The day of the elders’ meeting moved too quickly and too slowly at the same time.
I woke in Tristan’s bed with his arm still locked around my waist and the memory of the courtyard confrontation sitting heavy in my chest. For a few minutes I stayed still, listening to his steady breathing, letting myself have the quiet before the day could take it away. The bond between us felt different now—less like a secret we were protecting and more like a line we had already crossed in front of the entire school.
When Tristan stirred, his first instinct was to pull me closer. His voice was rough with sleep.
“You’re thinking too hard already.”
“Hard not to.”
He pressed a slow kiss to the top of my head. “Whatever they say tonight, it doesn’t change what we are. Remember that.”
I nodded against hi
