Nic had been absent for days, consumed by some unseen force. It felt as though he was slipping away from me, and I was at a loss for what to do. Ever since the council’s arrival, I had become nothing more than a fragile doll in the eyes of others, suffocating under their overprotective gaze. It was infuriating, but amidst the suffocating atmosphere, Kyle remained my sole refuge, treating me as an equal. And so, I found solace in slipping away from the suffocating house, seeking solace in training alone, with Kyle as my silent guardian.
As I honed my skills, my focus solely on the dozen knives piercing the tree before me, I noticed a sudden change in Kyle’s demeanor. His face drained of color, and my heart skipped a beat. I turned around, my eyes meeting the piercing gazes of Nikolai, Mikh
