After everyone was back in their rooms, Kaelo also went to her room, not fuming, but simmering.
She shut her door a little harder than necessary. The quiet thud filled the room, echoing her irritation back at her. The dining hall drama kept replaying in her head, every detail sharp, humiliating, infuriating. She stood there for a moment, breathing in through her nose, out through her mouth, trying to release the anger but feeling it curl tighter inside her chest.
She wasn't even angry in the loud, explosive way.
No.
This was the quiet kind. The kind that curled around the ribs and sat there like a stone. The kind that pretended she wasn't bothered while her mind refused to let it go.
A soft knock came at the door.
She didn't turn. She already knew who it was.
Derek stepped inside without waiting for permission, shutting the door behind him. He looked tense, still irritated from the dining hall, still upset at how Adrian had spoken to them, spoken to her.
