Chapter 42
Ciara’s POV
“God, why did I even come here?” I muttered under my breath, pressing a hand to my forehead.
Maybe I shouldn’t have. Maybe I should’ve just listened to my gut—stayed tucked away in the guest room, pulled the covers over my head, and asked Lyra to bring me breakfast in bed like she offered. That would've been the wiser thing to do, the safe thing.
But no, I had to get up. I had to walk straight into the lion’s den wearing nothing but my already fading confidence and denim.
And now I was regretting it with every bone in my body because the moment I stepped into the dining hall, the atmosphere changed like someone had flipped a switch.
Laughter died and conversations stopped mid-sentence. Even the subtle clinking of utensils against plates ceased. Everything went
