Ronan's POV

I watched Elias walk away down the hallway. He looked steady enough. Back straight, shoulders squared. Like nothing had happened.

But I could still smell traces of his heat on my clothes. Faint, but there. Anyone with a sensitive nose would notice.

I needed to shower and change before the meeting with Castellan.

My phone buzzed again. Another message from my father.

“Call me immediately.”

I deleted it without responding.

The shower was hot enough to hurt. I stood under ...