Alina
I found Rowan's notebook still on my desk when I woke. The page he'd left open was the same; short notes about masks and when to stop using them. His handwriting on the slip of paper sat on top. I read it again even though I already knew the words. I had thanked him last night because it felt right to say thank you. This morning it felt… odd.
The room was oddly quiet. Kael tied his boots and watched the door like he expected trouble to knock. Lucien shut a book and slid it into his drawer. Rowan flipped my ribbon bookmark between his fingers without asking and then dropped it back into place as if that counted as manners.
"Rowan," I said, keeping my voice even.
He looked up with that easy smile he wore when he was pretending to be harmless. "Morning, sunshine."
I ignored the name. "About your note."
"My note was excellent," he said.
"I read it," I said. "I don't need another puzzle. Tell me what you meant."
He stretched, unbothered. "It meant what it said."
