Nyx
It was Mr. Asher.
The moment his deep, resonant voice cut through the quiet night air and reached us, Kaden immediately lifted his head from my chest, the vulnerable moment shattering like fragile glass.
And somehow, despite the fact that we were literally doing nothing wrong... just two exhausted friends sharing a quiet hug on cold stone steps, t5the entire situation suddenly felt deeply suspicious. Like we had been caught committing some terrible, forbidden crime under the cover of darkness.
Which was ridiculous.
We were sitting on ordinary stone steps outside the dorm. Not plotting the downfall of the academy. Not breaking any sacred rules. Just… existing. Breathing. Trying to offer each other a sliver of comfort in this merciless place.
