~ARIA~
I turned my neck and saw Kael looking at us with so much venom in his eyes. I couldn't tell if he was mad at them or even me. The lady who was about to slap me dropped her hand immediately she realized that Kael was in the lounge. Her face had turned so pale that I feared she would pass out in a matter of seconds.
Without warning, Kael strode up to us. His voice was low, barely more than a rumble, but it held a sharp warning. “If any of you touches her,” he warned, “you’ll answer to me. Understood?”
They nodded quickly. Kael didn’t wait for them to respond further; he turned, coming back to my side. His face was unreadable, his expression back to its usual, cold self, as though nothing had happened.
But I felt humiliated. Of all things, this show of control only made me feel sm
