I was about to turn back when I heard it.
A distant thud. A rustle. Then a commotion—a clash of metal? A muffled growl?
I froze.
From behind the trees, just beyond the academy wall, a tall figure leapt over the stone boundary like gravity meant nothing. I ducked behind the edge of a pillar, heart hammering in my chest. The moment he landed, his scent hit me like a freight train.
Kross.
Shit.
I turned on my heel and started walking—fast, but not frantic. Don’t draw attention. Just walk. I moved through the shadows, taking the back way to our dorm. My fingers trembled as I unlocked the door and stepped inside. Once in, I rushed to the window and peeked through the thin slit of curtains.
There he was.
Standing under the faint glow of the garden lights—white shirt, black pants, blood.
