Dravina POV

"Would you have breakfast with me?" Malrik asked at last, his voice steady, inviting stripped of pretense. "Just us. No third parties. I know you haven’t eaten."

Relief pulsed through me like a sudden breath of air. I gave a silent nod, thankful for the offer thankful that, for once, I wouldn’t have to eat under the scrutiny of watching eyes and masked judgments.

"In the meantime," he added, tilting his head toward me, "let’s get you into something dry."

I reached for the ...