Ivy's diary.
(Kieran stumbled on it after going to check up on Ivy but she wasn't in her room.)
I’ve learned to walk through Blackwood territory like I belong. Head held high, shoulders straight, heart hidden. That’s what they don’t tell you about survival—it’s not about being the strongest. It’s about pretending you’re not scared when everyone is watching.
I could feel their eyes today more than usual. Their stares weren’t just curious. They were sharp, slicing, filled with questions no one dared ask out loud. And still, I walked the court as if their judgment didn’t matter. As if I didn’t hear the whispers.
Selena stood near the edge of the gathering, her arms folded tight, her mouth drawn in a thin line. She hadn’t spoken to me since the last confrontation. I knew what she thought
