The next morning, the air around the camp felt heavier charged, like something was brewing beneath the surface.
Usually breakfast would be ready but today everywhere looked deserted of females.
Maris had gone out early to help with the morning drills, leaving me half-awake and sore beneath the thin sheets. My bruises still pulsed faintly, though the ointment Darius had applied had helped more than I’d expected.
I slipped out of bed and washed up quietly. The hallway was strangely quiet for a summit morning , no laughter, no clatter of breakfast dishes, only the low hum of male voices somewhere deeper inside the main lodge. Curiosity tugged at me before sense could stop it.
I followed the sound.
I moved quietly, my bare feet making no sound against the cold wooden floor. The closer I g
