"I'm not one of her bonds."
Kaelen's words hung in the air, each syllable hammering into my chest like tiny, precise nails. After everything—the kiss in his office, the electricity between us, the way his eyes tracked my every movement—how could he stand there and lie so blatantly?
Silas stepped forward, glasses glinting under the lab lights. "With all due respect, Headmaster, that's bullshit."
"Silas!" I hissed, shocked by his boldness.
But he wasn't backing down. "We all feel it, sir. The connection between you and Hazel is undeniable."
Rhys nodded beside him. "It's why you've been avoiding her. Why you're fighting it so hard."
Kaelen's face remained impassive, but I caught the slight tightening around his eyes. "You're mistaken. Now, I suggest you all return to your quarters as instructed."
Without another word, he turned and strode from the lab, the door clicking shut behind him with finality.