20

20

Seraphina

Kaelion and Kiera continued speaking, their conversation flowing seamlessly. Strategy, formations, orders—I barely had to listen to know they were perfectly in sync. It was infuriating. The way they moved together, the way he actually smirked at something she said, the way she leaned just a little too close when pointing at the map he had rolled out on the table.

I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. I had no reason to be angry. No reason to feel this… annoyance twisting inside me like a thorn.

I wasn’t jealous.

I wasn’t.

Still, I didn’t want to be here any longer, watching them fit into each other’s world like I was nothing more than an outsider.

So I turned on my heel and left.

Kaelion didn’t stop me.

*****

By the time night fell, I was back in my room, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the flickering candlelight. My wounds ached, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to be alone.

The door creaked open.

I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.