Selene’s POV
The cozy café was quieter than I expected, a warm little spot near the academy’s entrance, but the silence between Elara and me was anything but comfortable. She stirred her drink absently, her fingers tracing the rim of the cup. Her eyes watched me as if trying to gauge my mood. I wasn’t sure why I had followed her there. Maybe it was curiosity, or maybe I wanted answers—closure, even. I wasn’t entirely sure, but I knew one thing for certain. She was up to no good.
The warm atmosphere of the café clashed with the cold knot in my stomach. Outside, students from the academy passed by, their laughter faintly audible through the glass windows, but inside, the tension between us sat heavy in the air. Elara’s gaze was too intense and calculated as if every word she was about to say had been carefully crafted.