Evaline:
I had barely stepped into the hallway when the air around shifted, just enough to send a shiver down my spine.
I didn’t need to look to know who had just entered the building behind . The sll of expensive perfu mixed with overconfidence was a dead giveaway.
"Look who finally decided to show up," Nadine’s voice rang out, smug and sweet with just enough venom to cut skin. "Heard you passed out like a delicate little flower."
Beside her, Bianca and Violet snickered.
"Poor thing," Bianca drawled. "Spends one night unconscious and now suddenly too frail to take the stairs like the rest of us."
"Guess being a genius doesn’t save you from being wolfless," Violet added in her high and mocking voice. "So much for top scores when your body can’t even carry your own weight."
They laughed as if it was the funniest thing in the world. I arrived at the elevator and pressed the button, ignoring them. I didn’t have the energy - not for their taunts, not for their attempts to get under my skin.
"Silent treatnt?" Nadine sniffed. "Careful, Evaline. You may think you are special now, but the second term focuses on strength and physical testing. I doubt the professors will care how well you score on paper if you collapse halfway through a sparring match."
The elevator dinged as the door opened, and I stepped in without a word. As the door was closing, I heard one of them scoff behind , followed by a sarcastic "Princess can’t be bothered."
I took a breath and exhaled slowly as the elevator took to my floor. Stepping out, I walked down the hallway.
Once at my dorm door, I entered the security code and pushed it open, stepping into the warm glow and sudden loud chatter of familiar voices.
"Eva!"
The room felt like it shifted, like it breathed, and then all five of them were on their feet.
Selene got to first, throwing her arms around . "You scared the hell out of us!"
"Are you okay now?" Ria asked, hugging right after.
Noah offered a side-hug that ca with a quiet, "Glad to see you upright again."
And Kyros, he wrapped up in a warm, bear hug. "We have got so much to talk about," he whispered near my ear, and I followed his gaze as he subtly nodded at the jacket around my shoulders.
He’s the only one who noticed. And that’s because he was the only one in the room who now knew parts of my secrets.
Once he stepped aside, I found Mallory standing a step away with her arms tucked close to her chest, looking uncertain. Her eyes were shimring like she wanted to cry or shout, but she didn’t move.
So I did.
I closed the gap between us and wrapped my arms around her. Her hesitation shattered imdiately, and she hugged back just as tightly.
We hugged for the longest, and when we finally pulled apart, we both had genuine smiles on our faces.
"I’m sorry," I said quietly to them all. "For making you worry. I promise, I won’t let it happen again."
"No kidding," Selene muttered, half-scolding, half-relieved.
Noah opened his mouth, and I could already tell he was about to ask what had actually happened, but before he could speak a word, Kyros said instead, "You were in the infirmary the whole ti. I’m sure it’s a kind of experience in its own, right?"
I blinked, staring at him while he keptbhis calm gaze fixed on . "Yeah... right. It indeed was - one I’m not looking forward to experience anyti soon again."
The others chuckled while Kyros gave an almost unnoticeable nod of approval.
This answered everything I needed to know. It seed like no one knew I got admitted to a hospital, instead, they all believed that I had been in the infirmary all this ti.
I didn’t have to wonder too much about who might behind all this - Kieran. Only he had such kind of authority over the Academy to involve the infirmary and the healers in such kind of lie.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard Mallory speaking next. "They wouldn’t let us see you. Said you needed total rest and weren’t allowed visitors."
"I’m really sorry, Mal," I said again. "But you guys didn’t miss out on anything. I was busy sleeping most of the ti."
They all chuckled and we all settled down into the comfort of our common room. For a mont, I just sat there watching them - my friends, my found family - and felt a warmth bloom in my chest. Despite the chaos, despite everything I was keeping from them, they were here. They cared.
As dinner ti approached, we all bundled up and left for the dining hall together. I let myself blend into the conversation, laughing at Noah’s sarcasm and Ria’s complaints about assignnts.
On our way down, I turned slightly toward Kyros. "Any idea about where Rowan might be?"
He shrugged. "Nope. He’s been missing since after classes. Thought he would be with you."
I pulled out my phone. I hadn’t checked it since entering the dorm, and I was surprised to see an unreadable ssage waiting for ... from Rowan.
Heading out of the Academy for the evening. Will be back around midnight. Have a good dinner.
A smile crept onto my face without permission.
He had told . Like a little brother reporting to his big sister.
I was sure he would hate being called the "little" one. He always acted older than most of us, more reliable. Maybe we should sort it out properly. Birthdays and all. He deserved that much. But I liked the idea of being the elder Sister.
I slipped my phone away and followed the others inside the dining hall. Mallory caught smiling and bumped her shoulder lightly into mine.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," I said, warmth blooming in my chest again.
Nothing... and everything.
Because even in the madness, the pain, and the secrets... I had people. I had bonds - the ones I was creating myself and the ones given to by the Moon Goddess.
And despite everything that still needed to be faced, tonight... I had peace.
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