The scent of roasted meat and spiced bread filled the air as students flooded the dining hall, their voices mixing in a loud buzz.
Blazar kept to the edges of the crowd, her tray balanced in one hand, the other tucked into her pocket—a habit she'd developed to avoid unwanted touches against her chest.
She didn't see Rai until it was too late.
A boot hooked around Blazar's ankle, sending her stumbling forward. Her tray clattered to the floor with a loud crash, food scattering across the polished stone like confetti. Laughter erupted behind her, sharp and mocking.
"Oops," Rai drawled, stepping into her path with a smug grin. "Clumsy today, Orion?"
Blazar's jaw tightened as she stared at the mess around her feet. Rai—Xeari's sharp-tongued cousin. Where Xeari was all smooth charm, Rai was pure, bitter spite.
She straightened slowly, meeting Rai's smirk with a cold sneer.
