The moment Valen walked through the door, my chest tightened as though my ribs were being squeezed by invisible hands. His eyes scanned the apartment quickly, sharp and calculating, before finally settling on me.
I held the red folder in my lap, fingers trembling. It felt heavier than it was, loaded with secrets, accusations, and danger. The voice from the phone call still lingered in my ears: “You opened it. You know what that means.”
He noticed it immediately. His gaze dropped to the folder, the weight of it making him pause mid-step.
“Elara,” he said softly, almost like a warning, almost like a plea.
I swallowed hard. “I… I didn’t think….”
His hand cut the words off, resting lightly on the corner of the folder. “You know the rules,” he said quietly, but there was something in his t
