"MARKED BY THE MOON"
ELARA POV
“I choose Elara.”
Silence.
My name. Loud. Clear. Said by him.
Necks craned around the room.
Even Lila’s mouth dropped. “Did he just—?”
“I’ll pair with her,” Kael said again, taking a step closer like he was ordering someone to do something instead of asking.
Mr. Rayburn arched an eyebrow. “Mr. Vireon, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but students are randomly—”
“I insist,” Kael said.
Resolve. Steel. Command. Kael had it.
He had the sort of command that even Mr. Rayburn didn’t dare cross.
And before any of us could do anything but watch.
It was done.
I stood slowly, a million eyes boring into my back as I walked to the front.
Kael stepped to my side, a low voice beside me that only I could hear.
“I need to talk to you. After this.”
I sa
