She was fire wrapped in pride… and he was the storm that refused to let her burn alone. Jiselle never needed saving—at least, that’s what she told herself. Sharp words, colder glances… she wore her stubbornness like armor. Especially around him. “I don’t need you,” she’d snap, turning away before her eyes could betray her. But Tavion? He never listened. Because behind her defiance, he saw everything she tried to hide. Fear. Loneliness. And a heart that already belonged to him. And every single time the world turned cruel— every time danger closed in, shadows reaching for her— he was there. Always. Not as a hero she asked for… but as the one she could never escape. “Stay away from me, Tavion.” A lie. Because the moment he steps back— she feels it. The silence. The emptiness. The absence of the only person who ever stayed. His jaw tightens, eyes burning with something raw, something unbreakable. “You can hate me all you want, Jiselle,” he says quietly. “But I’ll still be the one who shows up when everything falls apart.” And he does. Every. Single. Time. Even if it means bleeding. Even if it means breaking. Even if it means losing himself— he will protect her. Because loving her was never a choice. It was a promise he made the moment he decided she was worth everything. And in a world full of danger, secrets, and unforgiving darkness… Jiselle is about to realize— The one she keeps pushing away… is the only one standing between her and destruction. ❤️‍🩹