Chapter 60
Ella
The walk back to the academy felt like a long, slow march. Every step was a reminder of my weakness, of the pain throbbing in my leg and the fear gnawing at my insides. Nikolai walked beside me, his presence a strange mix of comfort and unease. He didn't speak, didn't offer a hand to help me limp, but I could feel his eyes on me, constantly scanning the woods around us. It was like he was expecting something to jump out at us from behind the trees.
The silence between us was heavy, thick with unspoken words. I wanted to ask him if he had seen me, if he knew my secret, but the words wouldn't come out. I was too afraid of the answer. What if he had seen me change? What if he now knew I wasn't who I pretended to be? The thought made my stomach twist with anxiety.
As we fin
