The corridor stretched long and quiet before them.
Philipa walked a few steps behind Mr. Mark, her hands clasped loosely in front of her as she tried to keep her breathing steady. Their footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor, the only sound breaking the silence of the late hour.
Usually the academy halls were filled with noise—students laughing, arguing, rushing between rooms—but tonight everything felt unnaturally still.
Too still.
Philipa kept her gaze forward, though her thoughts were anything but calm.
Why did he summon me?
Her mind ran through every possible mistake she could have made.
Had someone discovered something?
Had someone seen her when she tried to escape?
Or worse… Had someone begun to suspect what she truly was?
She forced herself to swallow the rising f
