The corridor was quiet after Caden’s footsteps faded, but the tension he left behind seemed to cling to the air like static. I leaned back against the wall, letting out a shaky breath. Whatever Elara had wanted to discuss earlier, it felt insignificant compared to the storm brewing around me now.
My gut twisted as I replayed Damon’s words. Don’t forget who’s been here for you, Mystic. He wasn’t wrong, but there was something suffocating about his loyalty—like it came with strings I wasn’t sure I could untangle. And Caden? He was a wild card. No history, no context, and yet he seemed to understand more about me than I wanted anyone to.
I pushed off the wall, forcing my legs to move. If I stayed there too long, I’d start overthinking, and that never led anywhere good. My feet carried me to
