Kalista barely slept.
By the time dawn touched the academy's roofs, her eyes burned from staying awake, her mind looping endlessly between two horrors—the kiss and her father's words.
She splashed her face with cold water, glaring at her reflection. "You look like you wrestled a griffin," she muttered.
The water dripped down her cheeks, but no amount of splashing could wash away the dread curling in her stomach.
Phase Two.
The locket.
Dispose of them if necessary.
She shivered. "What are you planning, Father?"
The urge to tell someone clawed at her, and only one name came to mind.
Darenn.
Of course, the thought made her stomach do a ridiculous little flip. "It's not because I like him," she mumbled to herself. "It's because he's the only one who'll actually listen. That's all."
***
Darenn was awake early. Though judging by the way his eyes were fixed on his coffee, it was obvious he hadn't slept much either.
