A knock at the door made me jump.
"Cassidy?" Celeste's voice.
I opened the door quickly, relief flooding me.
She stepped inside, eyes scanning me in a way that made me realize… she felt the same unease I did.
"You alright?" she asked.
"No," I admitted, voice barely a whisper.
She nodded once. "Didn't think so."
We sat on the bed, side by side, the silence stretching.
Finally I said, "Celeste… do you think someone we know could be involved?"
Her jaw ticked—just once. She didn't answer immediately.
Then, carefully: "Human or not, resentment makes people do reckless things."
My stomach clenched.
She placed a hand over mine. "We'll figure it out. But tonight… don't sleep alone."
My breath shook.
She meant it as a soldier. As a sister.
As someone who had seen enough war to know when a threat wasn't gone.
She stood, grabbed an extra blanket, and pulled a chair to the bed.
"I'll stay."
I nodded.
But even with Celeste nearby, the shadows in the room felt too deep.
