Eira's pov
He signed it with a smear of ink. Like he couldn't even finish his name properly,just one more unfinished promise.
"Trust no one. Not even me."
That was the last line. His final truth. No closure. No regret. Just a cold, calculated warning that burned more than any apology ever could.
I slammed the journal shut so hard the desk rattled.
The air in the room tightened around me. My chest rose and fell too quickly, like I'd run ten miles and found nothing but a cliff at the end.
Draven appeared in the doorway a second later, arms crossed, brow furrowed.
"You okay?"
"Fine," I said without looking up.
He didn't believe me,not for a second. But he didn't press. Not yet.
He crossed the room in two strides and kissed my temple gently, grounding me. "Let me know when you're ready to stop lying."
And just like that, he walked back into the hall, leaving me alone with Malrick's words echoing in my ears like gunshots.
I didn't sit back down.
I didn't cry.
