Anila POV
Xaden walked with Penny and me to the dining hall. Penny was quiet since the elevator and I knew she probably had a ton of questions for me, but she wasn’t going to ask with Xaden present. He kept his hands entwined with mine and honestly, I was okay with that. I wanted him close; something inside of me needed to feel his presence.
After that awkward elevator ride, I didn’t want him anywhere else. When Zach left the elevator, he went the opposite way and there was a part of me that wondered where he was going. Just before he disappeared, he paused, his eyes found mine. He held my eyes for only a second before turning and disappearing through the crowd.
Xaden pulled me along with him and we made it outside into the cool warm night’s air. I breathed in the fresh air and allowe
