0051.

The sound of Ivory screaming cut through the dumbfounded silence in the assembly hall; everybody froze, awaiting what was happening. After some seconds, all we could hear was just a loud thud, followed by silence again.

The crowd erupted in whispers and murmurs as curiosity turned to concern.

"Is she hurt?" someone in the crowd muttered.

I scanned the room, my eyes locking with Liam's, and for just a moment, I saw the tempest roil in those depths. Of everything I'd let slip, it seemed the bottom had fallen out of his world, but deep inside, I knew he needed answers. Answers only I could give him.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, nodding toward the door. "Liam, can we talk? Alone?"

He hesitated but then gave a slight nod, following me from the Assembly Hall as the crowd remained too preoccupied with whatever commotion Ivory had caused.

We stepped into an empty corridor and I turned to face him, nerves buzzing under my skin. He stared back at me, his face a mixture of hope and hu