I stood at the wall with blood drying at my chin and sand in my shoes. The rest of the pairings blurred into strikes and blocks and Aldric’s voice saying words I no longer cared about.
I had made it through my match. That was all that mattered.
When it ended, everyone filed out through the lower door and headed to lunch.
I didn’t go with the others to the dining hall.
I headed back to Room 114.
The corridor outside my room was empty.
It stayed that way for exactly three seconds after I reached my door.
“Astra.”
I stopped with my hand on the handle and turned around.
Caspian stood at the far end of the hall.
Apparently he had followed without making a sound. Which was infuriating.
“You’re developing a talent for appearing where you have not been invited,” I said.
“Can I come in?”
I had to grind my teeth to keep my jaw from dropping.
Caspian Ashford, asking permission.
The morning had officially become ridiculous.
I opened the door, stepped inside, then looked back at him over my shoulder.
“You may stand in the doorway.”
He came close enough to stand outside the threshold and no closer.
The restraint should not have affected me.
Naturally, it did.
The Pull tightened low in my ribs, and irritation came up fast to cover it.
His eyes went to the blood at my mouth.
“May I?”
“That depends what you are asking.”
His hand was already halfway to his pocket. He finished the movement slowly and took out a clean folded cloth.
“The cut,” he said.
I looked at the cloth. Then at him.
Caspian exhaled through his nose.
“I’m trying to be decent here, Astra.”
