Zyron's POV
The night sky shimmered with hundreds of glowing lanterns, drifting like soft fireflies across the dark canvas above Austen University. The air smelled faintly of jasmine and candle wax, and laughter echoed from the courtyard below. But here on the rooftop, where the breeze felt cooler and quieter, I sat alone on the bench, watching the lights rise higher and higher into the stars.
For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace.
Everything felt like it was finally falling back into place.
"Trix…" I whispered to myself, smiling faintly as I stared at one of the lanterns. "You're my light."
But my chest tightened when I realized she'd been gone for too long. She said she'd only be a few minutes—to fix herself up in the comfort room—and that was almost an hour ago. Maybe she met one of her friends downstairs, I told myself. Maybe she got caught in the crowd. Still, the unease wouldn't leave me.
"Zyron!"
