Elias’s POV

Training had not started yet, but the day already felt different. Ronan stood so close that I could feel the warmth from his arm even without looking at him. My heart had not calmed since we left the dining hall.

I kept replaying the way he touched my back. The way he brushed my hand. The soft look in his eyes when he said I should get used to waking up calm.

Part of me still could not believe any of this was real.

I looked around the field. Students stretched or joked with ...