By the next day when I woke up, I had a slight headache. I tried to wave it off and just get myself ready for the day, but I had already made up my mind: I would avoid Derek as much as I could. I couldn’t just face him, not after everything.

I planned on visiting Madam Kaelene, hoping she could teach me the best way to build a wall between me and Derek, so he wouldn’t be able to enter my head, mind-link with me, read my thoughts, or feel anything from me.

I dressed, took my bath, and not ...