Fiona's POV
The packed house stood unusually quiet that morning. Sunlight was pouring through the wide windows, casting warm streaks across the wooden floor. I sat in the common room. My fingers wrapped loosely around a half-empty cup of tea. The steam had long since faded. My elbow rested on the table’s smooth surface and in it, I supported the weight of my chin.
David leaned against the wall a few feet away with arms folded behind him. His sharp blue eyes stayed fixed on the window, scanning the woods outside. He'd been on guard duty since dawn. The faint shadows under his eyes betrayed how little rest he'd had.
I'd dragged him into the conversation to pass the time — more for my own amusement than his since his shift started.
"So... you really dropped out?" My voice broke the silenc
