"Every eye in the courtyard was on us."

The weight of silence pressed down on me like a storm about to break, heavy with the electricity that preceded supernatural lightning. The festival music faltered as students turned from their conversations and celebratory dancing, whispers snapping through the crowd like sparks from a dying fire. The paper lanterns swaying overhead seemed to dim as all attention focused on the drama unfolding beneath the goddess's silver light.

Darius stood directly in ...