The sky had begun to darken by the time Rian finally returned to the dormitory tower. Shadows stretched long across the stone floor, soft and cool in contrast to the burn in her legs. Her steps were quiet, precise. She kept her head down, her breathing measured—trying not to let the buzz of humiliation or the memory of mocking laughter follow her up the stairs.
The moment she opened the door to the dorm suite, the familiar sense of anxiety crawled up her spine.
Kael was already there.
He sat on the edge of the shared couch, elbows resting on his knees, a towel around his neck and a bottle of water in one hand. His dark shirt clung to him with sweat, his jaw sharp and his expression unreadable. For a heartbeat, Rian froze in the doorway.
Kael looked up.
Their eyes met—just for a second
