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CHAPTER 96
~Valerie's POV~
The scent of warm toast, scrambled eggs, and sugared tea filled our dorm kitchen. Morning light streamed through the curtains, catching in Isla's curls as she hummed along to the enchanted radio playing an upbeat fae tune.
Emerald flipped a pancake, her hair tied back, while Astraea lounged against the counter, nursing a steaming mug of coffee that smelled like hazelnut and trouble.
I sat unmoving at the end of the small round table with a fork in my hand. My eyes were trained on my plate—fluffy eggs, half-buttered toast, slices of fruit neatly arranged—and I hadn't touched a single bite.
Instead, my mind kept looping back to yesterday evening after volleyball practice. Kai's breath was against my lips, and his body was pressed to mine.
The weight of his wish. The ache that had settled so deep I couldn't breathe right.
He hadn't kissed me. But gods, Astra… I wanted him to.
"Valerie?" Emerald's voice cut through my daze.
