Kaelen's Burden and a Sterling's Uncontrolled Gift

Kaelen's POV

I gripped Isla's arm firmly as I marched her through the hallways toward my office. Her compulsion attempt in the dining hall had been crude but powerful—dangerously so. Untrained compulsion was like giving a toddler a loaded gun. Irresponsible. Deadly.

"Let go of me!" she hissed, struggling against my grip. "You're hurting me."

I loosened my hold slightly but didn't release her. "If I were actually hurting you, you'd know it."

We reached my office, and I pushed her inside before closing the door behind us. She immediately backed away from me, her eyes darting around the room like a cornered animal searching for escape.

"Sit down," I ordered, pointing to the chair across from my desk.

"I want to go home," she demanded, her voice quivering despite her attempt at bravado. "I don't belong here."