Caspian reaches me, eyes narrowing as he looks around. "Was that Knox?"
"Yeah." No point lying.
He tenses. "What did he want?"
"Just... talking." Not entirely a lie.
Caspian doesn't look convinced but doesn't push. Instead he takes my hand. "Come on. Walk back with me."
As we head toward his quarters, I can feel eyes on us from the shadows. Knox watching. The pull between us still magnetic from that kiss, demanding more.
I don't look back.
Chapter Thirty-Two
We reach Caspian's building and he pauses at the entrance, still holding my hand.
"Stay tonight," he says.
I think about the pull from Knox still humming under my skin, about Julian who I haven't seen since the claiming, about the complexity of balancing two mates when I can barely handle one.
"I can't. I need to process everything and I need some space to think."
His jaw tightens but he nods. "Okay. But tomorrow night you're mine."
"Maybe," I say with a small smile.
He growls low in his throat, pulls me against him, and kisses me again. His mouth moves on mine slow and certain, his hand tilting my face up exactly where he wants it. By the time he pulls back my breath comes in soft, uneven gasps.
"Tomorrow," he says, then takes my hand. "Come on, I'll walk you back."
"I can walk myself," I say softly.
"I know you can." He takes my hand, ready to guide me away from his building. "But I want to."
I squeeze his hand and stop walking. "Caspian. I really need to do this alone tonight. I just need a little space to process everything."
He studies my face for a long moment, then nods with understanding. "Okay. But text me when you get back so I know you're safe."
"I will," I promise, rising on my toes to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for understanding."
He watches me walk away and I can feel his eyes on my back until I turn the corner.
I stand there for a moment, touching my lips where I can still feel him. The claiming bite on my shoulder throbs in time with my heartbeat, a constant reminder of what we did. What we are now.
Then I turn and head back toward my own dorm.
The quad is mostly empty at this hour. Most students are in their rooms or at the library. The few I pass do double takes when they see the claiming bite, but I ignore them. Let them stare. I'm past caring what anyone thinks.
I'm halfway across when a figure steps out from behind one of the stone pillars.
Nico.
I stop walking. "Are you following me?"
"No." He pauses. "Well... yes. Kind of."
"That's not creepy at all."
