*Briella*
Drius cornered me just as I stepped out of the training room, his hazel eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. The cool stone walls of the hallway seemed to close in around us, making it feel far more intimate than I was comfortable with.
"Please, Briella," he began, his voice low and urgent, "you have to come home with me. It's not safe here anymore."
I could feel my patience wearing thin. This wasn't the first time we'd danced around this conversation. It was becoming our own unwanted ritual. His neatly cropped brown hair, usually so meticulously styled, fell in disarray over his forehead. It was a clear sign of his distress, but I had heard enough.
"Drius, I'm tired of telling you. I'm not leaving," I said firmly, crossing my arms over my chest.
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming in the narrow space. "But the danger–"
