Estella’s POV
The trip back to the academy was a blur. My body moved on instinct, but my mind was somewhere else—still in the dungeon, still echoing with Darius’s voice and the weight of what he’d confessed. By the time I reached the dorm and changed, it was already time for the club session. Bree and Cali weren’t in the room, so I figured they’d gone ahead without me.
I was right. Everyone was already gathered when I arrived, even Professor Incera, who stood near the far wall with her arms crossed as she observed the group practicing combat maneuvers. Mark and Lina, who were training closest to the door, noticed me first and shouted my name, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“You’re late,” Lina announced when I joined them, smiling at everyone who gathered around us. “Bree wanted to try l
