Zara – First Person POV
The restroom door creaked behind me as I stepped out, my palms still damp from where I’d pressed them against the cold sink. My reflection wouldn’t leave my mind—Talia’s calm face, her voice, those words that didn’t add up no matter how I tried to twist them.
The corridor was quiet, only the faint hum of voices drifting from distant classrooms. I took a breath, hoping the air would clear my head, but instead I nearly jumped when a familiar voice cut through the silence.
“There you are.”
I froze. Zarek leaned casually against the opposite wall, one ankle crossed over the other, like he’d been there for hours. His gaze swept over me, sharp but unreadable. “Been looking for you.”
I forced a weak smile, tugging at the hem of my sleeve. “Sorry. Got caught up.”
His
