Evaline:
Everything was packed - my uniforms, clothes, daily necessities, my electronics... all now neatly tucked away in my suitcase. My bed was stripped bare, my shelves empty. The room that had been my little haven for months looked strangely unfamiliar now.
I zipped my bagpack and exhaled, straightening up. My hands rested on my hips as I scanned the room one final ti, making sure nothing was left behind. My heart felt oddly heavy, even though part of was thrilled to go ho - to the Thorne estate, to my mates and my son.
It was officially the start of the 72-day holiday break. Nearly half the students had practically bolted right after breakfast... as if the gates were the doors to freedom. The rest had trickled out in groups through the morning, their laughter and chatter fading down the corridors until silence replaced it.
Now, only a few dozen students and a handful of faculty mbers remained behind. The usually vibrant campus felt like a ghost of itself - still beautiful, still grand, but eerily calm.
Kieran had promised to drive us ho, though he was still wrapping up so last-minute work. He always liked to make sure everything was in order before leaving, and since he was the Headmaster, I couldn’t exactly complain.
I sat on the edge of my bed, absently swinging my legs as I waited.
Selene and Noah had already left right after breakfast. Kyros had left an hour after them, driving with Ria.
I walked out of my room right as Mallory opened the dorm door and Jasper stepped inside.
The mont she saw him, Mallory had squealed so loud I thought she would burst my eardrums.
"Promise you’ll call, okay?" she said for what must have been the tenth ti as she pulled into a tight hug.
"Mal," I laughed, hugging her back just as tightly. "If you say it one more ti, I’ll actually start doubting that you want to call."
She grinned, her eyes shimring. "Of course I do! You are my best friend, dummy. Now don’t forget FaceTis, random texts, and-"
"-and gossip updates. I know, I know," I interrupted, smiling even as my throat tightened a little. "I’ll miss you."
Her voice softened. "I’ll miss you too, Eva."
We hugged once more before she finally left with Jasper. And then... it was just Rowan and .
He leaned casually against the doorfra, watching in silence as I fiddled with my suitcase handles.
"You don’t have to wait with , Rowan," I told him after a while. "Really. Kieran will be here soon, and I’ll be fine."
He raised a brow, his tone light but firm. "I’ll stay. Soone has to make sure you don’t decide to go back to the library for the sixth ti to check if you left sothing."
I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. "I’m sure I went there just twice."
He smirked. "Is that so?"
I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t argue further. Truthfully, his presence was comforting. The room felt less empty with him there.
That peace lasted all of five minutes before a soft knock sounded on the door.
I didn’t even need to check who it was. My pulse quickened instantly... I could feel him through our bond before I even reached for the handle.
When I opened the door, Draven stood there, his familiar smirk curving his lips, that dark, effortless confidence rolling off him like heat.
"Hey," I greeted, smiling before I could stop myself. "Why haven’t you left yet? I thought you were on your way hours ago."
"Was about to," he said, leaning against the doorfra with that lazy charm that always made my heart skip. "But I wanted to see you before I go."
He looked good... too good, honestly. His casual black t-shirt clung to him perfectly, sleeves pulled up to his forearms, the dark shadows beneath his eyes barely noticeable. But sothing about him still made uneasy. Maybe it was because I hadn’t stopped thinking about that strange patch of black veins I had seen last night.
Behind , Rowan straightened, greeting Draven with a nod.
"Thanks for staying with her," Draven said, glancing at him. "Appreciate it."
Rowan’s response was curt. "I’m not doing it for you."
Draven’s grin widened slightly, a glint of amusent in his eyes. "Fair enough."
And with that, Rowan muttered sothing about needing to make a call and stepped out, leaving alone with Draven.
The second the door clicked shut, I turned back to him, my smile fading.
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You know exactly what," I said, taking a step closer.
He blinked, clearly caught off guard by my tone. "Uh, I don’t?"
Without answering, I reached forward and tugged at the hem of his t-shirt.
His smirk returned instantly. "Eva, if you wanted to jump before I left, all you had to do was ask."
I gave him a glare sharp enough to make him chuckle, but he didn’t resist when I pulled the collar of his shirt down slightly.
And there it was.
The black veins.
They were still there... much more obvious in the morning light. They looked darker, more defined, creeping just a little further than they had last night.
My heart dropped.
"Draven," I whispered, my fingers trembling slightly as I reached out. "It’s worse."
He sighed, clearly trying to play it off, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes before he masked it with a grin. "It’s fine, love. Really. Probably just so weird bruise or sothing."
"That’s not a bruise," I said sharply. "You don’t get veins like that from a bruise."
"Then maybe it’s a mark from training-"
"Draven." My voice was quiet but firm. "If it was indeed just a bruise, it should have healed already. Let check."
He hesitated. I didn’t wait for permission. My fingers brushed his skin lightly, right where the veins were visible, and I closed my eyes, calling on my healing power... the warmth that had always answered without fail these past few weeks.
But this ti... nothing happened.
The silence inside was deafening.
Panic flared. My power always responded when it ca to soone important to ... but now it was like reaching into a void. My connection to the source of my healing felt severed, distant.
I tried again, harder this ti, my hand trembling against his chest. "Co on," I whispered, desperate. "Please-"
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