Kiel
The moment Josie's eyes met mine, everything shattered.
She didn't scream. She didn't say a word. Her expression—haunted, pale, broken—was worse than any slap. Then she turned. Spun away like I was poison.
I took a step forward. "Josie—"
But she was already gone.
Her footsteps echoed down the hall, fast, frantic. I didn't even try to follow. What would I say? What could I say? The damage was already done. Nothing I said now would fix this.
I stood there like a statue, my hand half-raised toward the empty doorway, wishing I could reverse time. My throat burned, but no sound came out. Just silence. Shame. Regret.
When I finally turned back, Varen and Thorne were watching me.
No sympathy.
Just ice.
Their eyes burned through me like torches, and suddenly, I felt like a traitor. Like a stranger in my own home.
"What?" I snapped, though my voice came out raw.
They didn't answer. They didn't need to. Their disgust was loud enough in the silence.
