Kaelen's POV
I tell myself I’ll sleep it off. I tell myself that when the sun crests over the ridge tomorrow, I’ll be fine—back to the stoic, unwavering heir everyone expects me to be. Celestine’s jealousy, her sharp-tongued accusations that tasted like poison, the way she flinched with a mixture of hurt and calculated drama when I finally turned my back and walked out—it’s all a blur now. I don't want to revisit it. I don't want to analyze the cracks in a relationship that feels more like a political merger than a life.
When I finally reach my house, the lights are dimmed to a low, amber glow. The transition from the crisp night air to the warmth of the foyer should be a relief, but the tension in my shoulders refuses to let go. I drop my gear bag by the door with a heavy thud and begin
