CHAPTER 453: SHADOWS BENEATH THE SKIN

Evaline:

Everything was packed - my uniforms, clothes, daily necessities, my electronics... all now neatly tucked away in my suitcase. My bed was stripped bare, my shelves empty. The room that had been my little haven for months looked strangely unfamiliar now.

I zipped my bagpack and exhaled, straightening up. My hands rested on my hips as I scanned the room one final time, making sure nothing was left behind. My heart felt oddly heavy, even though part of me was thrilled to go home - to the Thorne estate, to my mates and my son.

It was officially the start of the 72-day holiday break. Nearly half the students had practically bolted right after breakfast... as if the gates were the doors to freedom. The rest had trickled out in groups through the morning, their laughter and chatter fading down the corridors until silence replaced it.

Now, only a few dozen students and a handful of faculty members remained behind. The usually vibrant campus felt like a ghost of itself - still beautiful, still grand, but eerily calm.

Kieran had promised to drive us home, though he was still wrapping up some last-minute work. He always liked to make sure everything was in order before leaving, and since he was the Headmaster, I couldn’t exactly complain.

I sat on the edge of my bed, absently swinging my legs as I waited.

Selene and Noah had already left right after breakfast. Kyros had left an hour after them, driving with Ria.

I walked out of my room right as Mallory opened the dorm door and Jasper stepped inside.

The moment she saw him, Mallory had squealed so loud I thought she would burst my eardrums.

"Promise you’ll call, okay?" she said for what must have been the tenth time as she pulled me into a tight hug.

"Mal," I laughed, hugging her back just as tightly. "If you say it one more time, I’ll actually start doubting that you want me to call."

She grinned, her eyes shimmering. "Of course I do! You are my best friend, dummy. Now don’t forget FaceTimes, random texts, and-"

"-and gossip updates. I know, I know," I interrupted, smiling even as my throat tightened a little. "I’ll miss you."

Her voice softened. "I’ll miss you too, Eva."

We hugged once more before she finally left with Jasper. And then... it was just Rowan and me.

He leaned casually against the doorframe, watching me in silence as I fiddled with my suitcase handles.

"You don’t have to wait with me, Rowan," I told him after a while. "Really. Kieran will be here soon, and I’ll be fine."

He raised a brow, his tone light but firm. "I’ll stay. Someone has to make sure you don’t decide to go back to the library for the sixth time to check if you left something."

I let out a short laugh, shaking my head. "I’m sure I went there just twice."

He smirked. "Is that so?"

I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t argue further. Truthfully, his presence was comforting. The room felt less empty with him there.

That peace lasted all of five minutes before a soft knock sounded on the door.

I didn’t even need to check who it was. My pulse quickened instantly... I could feel him through our bond before I even reached for the handle.

When I opened the door, Draven stood there, his familiar smirk curving his lips, that dark, effortless confidence rolling off him like heat.

"Hey," I greeted, smiling before I could stop myself. "Why haven’t you left yet? I thought you were on your way hours ago."

"Was about to," he said, leaning against the doorframe with that lazy charm that always made my heart skip. "But I wanted to see you before I go."

He looked good... too good, honestly. His casual black t-shirt clung to him perfectly, sleeves pulled up to his forearms, the dark shadows beneath his eyes barely noticeable. But something about him still made me uneasy. Maybe it was because I hadn’t stopped thinking about that strange patch of black veins I had seen last night.

Behind me, Rowan straightened, greeting Draven with a nod.

"Thanks for staying with her," Draven said, glancing at him. "Appreciate it."

Rowan’s response was curt. "I’m not doing it for you."

Draven’s grin widened slightly, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Fair enough."

And with that, Rowan muttered something about needing to make a call and stepped out, leaving me alone with Draven.

The second the door clicked shut, I turned back to him, my smile fading.

He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You know exactly what," I said, taking a step closer.

He blinked, clearly caught off guard by my tone. "Uh, I don’t?"

Without answering, I reached forward and tugged at the hem of his t-shirt.

His smirk returned instantly. "Eva, if you wanted to jump me before I left, all you had to do was ask."

I gave him a glare sharp enough to make him chuckle, but he didn’t resist when I pulled the collar of his shirt down slightly.

And there it was.

The black veins.

They were still there... much more obvious in the morning light. They looked darker, more defined, creeping just a little further than they had last night.

My heart dropped.

"Draven," I whispered, my fingers trembling slightly as I reached out. "It’s worse."

He sighed, clearly trying to play it off, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes before he masked it with a grin. "It’s fine, love. Really. Probably just some weird bruise or something."

"That’s not a bruise," I said sharply. "You don’t get veins like that from a bruise."

"Then maybe it’s a mark from training-"

"Draven." My voice was quiet but firm. "If it was indeed just a bruise, it should have healed already. Let me check."

He hesitated. I didn’t wait for permission. My fingers brushed his skin lightly, right where the veins were visible, and I closed my eyes, calling on my healing power... the warmth that had always answered me without fail these past few weeks.

But this time... nothing happened.

The silence inside me was deafening.

Panic flared. My power always responded when it came to someone important to me... but now it was like reaching into a void. My connection to the source of my healing felt severed, distant.

I tried again, harder this time, my hand trembling against his chest. "Come on," I whispered, desperate. "Please-"