(Nicholas)
As I walked back through the castle's hallways, I could still feel Kieran's eyes on me. That smirk he'd given me was still in my mind, mocking me.
He knew how to get under my skin, and I hated him for it. He enjoyed picking at me, pushing to see just how far I'd go before I snapped. But I wasn't about to give him that satisfaction. No one saw through me like Kieran did, and he knew it.
When I entered the library, I found Elara waiting. She was curled up in a chair with a book, and as soon as she saw me, her face lit up.
That smile of hers—that soft, real smile—was the one thing that made this place feel like home. With her, I didn't have to pretend or watch my back. I could almost forget about the cold encounter with my parents or the tension Kieran stirred up like it was a game.
