The morning felt too bright.
Too normal.
Too calm for the storm building quietly beneath Amara's ribs.
She tried to act like everything was fine — she laughed when Cassian made a joke, nodded when Serene asked her something, even helped Orion pick up the cards he dropped.
But her mind kept drifting back to last night.
Adrian's arms around her. His kisses. His warmth. His voice whispering her name like it meant something.
She kept glancing toward the hallway, waiting for him to walk in.
And when he finally did, her heart reacted before she could stop it.
He didn't look at her immediately — but she felt him. Felt the shift in the air. Felt the quiet pull between them.
When he finally glanced her way, it was soft. Warm. A flicker of last night in his eyes.
She looked down quickly, cheeks warming.
Serene smirked. "You're glowing."
"I'm not," Amara whispered.
"You are."
Before she could respond, a voice cut through the room.
"Adrian."
Lyra.
She stood in the doorway, hands clasped tightly, eyes fixed on him.
Adrian blinked. "Yeah?"
"Can I talk to you?" she asked, voice soft but steady.
Aiden raised an eyebrow. Cassian paused mid‑chew. Serene looked up.
Amara's stomach tightened.
Adrian hesitated — just for a second — then nodded. "Okay."
Lyra turned and walked toward the side hallway.
Adrian followed.
Amara didn't mean to get up.
She didn't mean to follow.
But her feet moved on their own.
She stopped at the corner, hidden behind the wall, her heart pounding.
Lyra stood in front of Adrian, her voice trembling. "I need to tell you something."
Adrian sighed softly. "Lyra, if this is about yesterday—"
"It's not," she whispered. "It's about you."
Amara's breath caught.
Lyra took a shaky breath. "I like you."
Adrian froze.
Lyra continued, voice cracking. "I've liked you for a long time. I know you don't see me that way, but I had to say it. I had to try."
Amara's chest tightened painfully.
Lyra stepped closer. "I know you're older. I know you're quiet. I know you don't let people in. But I… I care about you."
Adrian opened his mouth to speak—
But Amara didn't hear what he said.
Because she stepped back.
One step.
Then another.
Her throat felt tight. Her eyes burned. Her heart felt like it was folding in on itself.
She turned and walked away before she could hear anything else.
Before she could hear him reject Lyra.
Before she could hear him say her name.
Before she could hear the truth.
She didn't want to hear it.
She didn't want to risk hearing something that would break her.
She slipped into the nearest room — the empty study — and closed the door quietly behind her.
Her breath shook.
Her hands trembled.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady the ache.
She didn't cry.
Not yet.
But she felt something inside her crack.
And she didn't hear the part that mattered.