Draven:
The house had gone quiet long ago.
I could hear nothing but the faint sound of pages turning in Kieran's room next to mine and the soft whistle of the night wind pressing against the windows.
Everyone had retired to their bedrooms... finally.
Eva's room was just down the hall.
And tonight... tonight was supposed to be one of those nights when she slept alone.
But the thought of her being there, alone in that soft golden light, with our son breathing gently in his crib… it clawed at my chest until I could no longer stay put.
I told myself I would just check on them. That was the excuse. The truth was simpler and far more dangerous.
I missed her. I missed both of them.
Every part of me did.
And I had spent half the evening listening to Kieran's lecture about how it was forbidden to leave the Academy midweek - that I could have jeopardized my attendance, my rank, my "reputation as a model student."
As if I cared about any of that.
