Kiah's thoughts had been consumed by Zane for what felt like an eternity. Every moment she spent in his presence, every glance he cast her way, only seemed to fuel the flames of her infatuation. She couldn't deny the way her heart skipped a beat when he was near, the way her skin prickled with awareness whenever their eyes met. And yet, she'd caught him gazing at Ace with an intensity that made her stomach twist with a pang of jealousy. It was clear that Zane's interest lay elsewhere, and Kiah couldn't help but feel a spark of determination ignite within her. She needed to make her presence known, to remind him that she was more than just a fellow warrior. As fate would have it, the opportunity presented itself sooner rather than later. Kiah stayed later at the training ring that day when she spotted Zane's dagger lying abandoned on the ground. She'd picked it up, intending to return it to him at the earliest opportunity. And now, with lunch only a couple of hours away, she found herself standing outside Zane's door, the dagger clutched in her hand. The blade shimmered in the dim light, encased in supple ivory leather adorned with intricate silver and white symbols, the signature hues of Viya. The door was cracked open, as if he had entered in a hurry and forgotten to close it. Kiah's instincts, honed from years of training as a ManPuri Valtarean warrior, kicked in, and she slipped inside without making a sound. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light, and she spotted Zane sitting at his desk, his back to her. He was writing something, his quill moving swiftly across the parchment. Her footsteps were silent as she approached him, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. She was about to speak, to announce her presence, when her gaze fell upon the parchment. Zane's words leapt out at her, and her breath caught in her throat.

‘She's here. She doesn't remember anything before the bridge. Lennon found her.’

The words seemed to sear themselves into her brain, and Kiah's mind began to whirl with questions. Who was Zane writing to? And why was he updating them on Ace? As if sensing her presence, Zane's head snapped up, and he spun around, his eyes locking onto Kiah's. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the air thick with tension. Then, with a swift motion, Zane sent the letter flying off the desk, and with a gust of magic, it vanished into thin air. Kiah's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the implications.

"Kiah," Zane said, his voice low and smooth, but with a hint of wariness. "What brings you to my room?"

Kiah held out the dagger, trying to appear nonchalant despite the turmoil brewing inside her. "You left this at the training ring," she said, her voice steady. "The door was open, so I let myself in."

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Zane's gaze scanned her face, as if searching for any sign that she'd seen the letter. But her expression remained neutral, her training kicking in to mask her emotions. "Thank you," he said finally, his smile a little too wide. "I appreciate it."

Kiah nodded, feeling a sense of awkwardness settle between them. She knew she needed to leave, to process what she'd just seen. But as she turned to go, her eyes met Zane's, and for a moment, she felt like she was drowning in their depths. She shook off the feeling, focusing on the task at hand. She needed to speak with Valen, to share what she'd discovered. She found him walking Sorelle into the library, his charming smile and easy banter making Sorelle giggle. Kiah's heart ached with a pang of envy, but she pushed it aside.

"Valen," she said, her voice low and urgent. "Can I speak with you?"

Sorelle's lips curled into a flirtatious grin as she locked gazes with Valen, before sinking into the library.

Valen's eyes met Kiah’s, and he raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Kiah?"

She leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need to tell you something. I was just in Zane's room, and I saw him writing a letter. It said something about Ace not remembering anything, and Lennon finding her."

Valen's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. "What the hell? What do you think it means?"

Kiah shook her head. "I don't know, but he looked nervous when he noticed me standing there. Why is Zane even here? Why would he coincidentally show up shortly before Ace got here?"

Valen's gaze turned thoughtful. "I don't know much about Zane, except that he's Viyan and was sent here to train.”

Kiah’s eyes narrowed. "I wondered why he took an immediate interest in Ace."

Valen crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "Don’t let your feelings for Zane cloud your judgment, Kiah. We can't afford to have you distracted."

Kiah's brows furrowed, but she stood tall, "My loyalty lies with Manpuri Valtara," she said, her voice steady. "And if it wasn't for my feelings, we wouldn't even know about this letter."

Valen nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Fair point. But we don't know what we're dealing with, and I don't want to jump to conclusions. Just don’t drop the ball, that’s all I’m saying"

Kiah raised an eyebrow. “I could say the same to you. Flirting with Sorelle when our host is obviously obsessed with her?”

Valen rolled his eyes. “Oh come on, you know Sorelle doesn’t like him like that.”

Kiah shrugged. “Whatever it’s not my business. Just tell me if you see anything suspicious with Zane. And this stays between us.”

Valen nodded, his eyes locked on Kiah’s. "I'll let you know if I find out anything else."

Kiah’s gaze turned serious. “Stay vigilant, I’ll see you at lunch.”