{Elira}
~**^**~
Two days later…
I woke before dawn, my pulse already dancing like frantic wings against my ribs.
Today was the day Zenon would tutor me.
Steam rose around me in the bath, but instead of calming me, it made my chest feel tighter. My mind spun in circles:
What if I stutter?
What if he finds me as useless as he probably already believes?
When I brushed my hair, my fingers trembled so badly I had to pause.
At breakfast, the rice on my spoon barely made it halfway to my mouth before I set it down again. My stomach was too knotted to swallow.
The table felt quieter than usual. Alpha Cyprus spoke gently to me, asking if I slept well, but my answer came out faint. My throat was too dry.
Lennon glanced at me, a small crease between his brows. Rennon's gaze held something softer—encouragement, maybe.
Zenon, as always, didn't look at me at all. I was his least favourite face to look at.
