Chapter 158: The Brothers’ Arrival
Kieran:
Lunch was over, and the weight of my responsibility settled back on my shoulders like a familiar cloak - uncomfortable but necessary.
I had been running from her for weeks now.
Not literally, of course. I was far too dignified for that, or so I liked to believe. But I had avoided meeting her - even when she personally came looking for me on several occasions, I arrived on time and left on time from classes, found excuse to avoid the Herbs and Potions class for the entire previous week.
Every time I heard her voice in the hallway or caught a whiff of her scent, my stomach twisted in ways I didn’t have names for. And so, I avoided. Avoided her... avoided the truth of what I was feeling.
But that couldn’t continue, not when it was beginning to impact my students.
I was not only one of the founders of the Academy, but also a Professor. And with that came expectations. Standards. Duties. So I was back.
I took a breath deep enough to steady the churning in my chest and pushed open the door to the classroom.
The familiar scent of parchment and dried herbs greeted me, as did the chatter of students settling into their seats. My gaze swept over the room on instinct.
It took me all of two seconds to realize she wasn’t here.
Evaline’s seat was empty.