Chapter 54 Keeping An Eye On Katarina

• Zane
• Katarina woke up. And she just ran away. Ran out of my room, like… She was terrified of me. I don’t blame her. If I were her, I’d be terrified of me too. It must have been hard for her, being outside, in the cold, all night. Now it’s been a few days and… I’m not sure what’s going on in Katarina’s head. She has tried her best for the past few days to avoid me. She no longer comes down for meals. And I don’t force her to either. I get it. Maybe she needs some time. Maybe I scared her a little bit too much. Or, just the right amount. For a mate as strong-willed as Katarina is, she needs a hard hand. Only that a part of me is softening for her, making me question whether I took it too far. She hasn’t been to the academy. She barely comes downstairs. Roselyn comes down with most of the food she takes up to her. I’m worried. I know I shouldn’t be. But I am. I know that I shouldn’t care. But I do. I mean… caring could just be that. She stays under my roof, so I care that she’s well-fed. It doesn’t mean anything. I can’t let it mean more than that.
• There’s a knock on the door. I walk to it and open the door, surprised. I stare at them, and I recognize all three of them. Katarina’s friends. “Look what we have here,” I say, looking at them stunned.