24

Zephyra's POV

The next day at my desk, my pulse leaped at every email notification, every ring of my phone. I half-expected to be summoned to Lirael’s office, and I wasn’t sure if I was dreading it or anticipating it. I got a few emails from Jovan, including one letting me know the Wright Group had nominated our concepts for the H+ Architectural Design Awards, which, even with my current emotional turmoil, had me feeling a swift rush of pride. His correspondence had been completely impersonal and related to the project, so he must have finally accepted that I wasn’t interested in anything he had to say. When the end of the day arrived and I hadn’t heard or seen anything from Lirael, a chaotic mix of emotions swirled inside me. Apparently, Freya was wrong. I should have been happy about it, so why did disappointment sit like a lead weight in my chest?

That evening, when Freya got back from teaching her classes, she asked me what happened at the office. When I told her nothing, her face