Elias's POV

Castellan sat behind his desk. Vale stood near the window. Both of them looking at us.

At the bandage on my neck.

"So," Castellan said. "You bonded. Without informing administration. Without following proper protocols."

"Yes," Ronan said.

"Care to explain why?"

"It was a personal decision. Private."

"Private." Castellan leaned back in his chair. "Two top-ranked students bond suddenly, without warning, right before a mandatory medical evaluation. And you call that ...