Silence hung heavy after Selene's words.
Elena was the first to breathe again, brushing a strand of platinum hair behind her ear. "I already knew," she said calmly. "Noel told me after the Hunt. You confessed to him then, didn't you?"
Selene gave a small nod, her expression unreadable.
Elyra blinked once, her grey eyes narrowing slightly. "Wait—what?" she asked, the disbelief slipping through her usual composure. "You already knew?"
Charlotte leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands, a soft smile breaking the tension. "So that's what this is about! For a second, I thought it was some kind of duel challenge."
Elena chuckled faintly. "Please. We're not savages."
But Elyra didn't laugh. Her smile had vanished, and the air around her carried a faint sharpness. "Then let me ask something," she said evenly, gaze fixed on Selene. "Did something else happen between you two?"
Selene's hand tightened slightly around her wand, then she exhaled. "Why do you ask?"
