Elias’s POV

Training started slow that morning. The sun was still pale, the air cold enough to make my fingers stiff. Students stood in lines on the field, waiting for instructions. Ronan stayed beside me, quiet but alert, like he was ready for anything.

I kept my eyes on the ground at first. I could still feel the way he looked at me in the dining hall. The way he said he liked that I trusted him. The words kept replaying in my head, even when I tried to push them away.

“Eyes up,” ...