Chapter 46

• Zara
• I could hear my breathing, harsh and ragged, as I watched him swallow hard and look away. We walked to the edge of the east courtyard, away from the bustle of students streaming toward the lunch hall. The marble fountain beside us gurgled softly, water splashing over moss-stained stone, filling the silence between us.
• Jace let go of my wrist and ran a hand through his hair, his eyes darting away as if searching for the right words. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead, carrying the faint scent of pine and smoke from the kitchen chimneys.