The forest is heavy with the heat of mid-summer, even at night. The grass bends under our footsteps as Asher and I move through the clearing, our steps quiet but synchronized, almost instinctive.
His arm brushes mine from time to time, just enough to make the blood in my veins stir. There’s a pull between us now that doesn’t need words; I feel it in every glance, every sigh, every shift of his weight nearby.
Chloe is on the perimeter, prowling like a cat. She doesn’t speak yet, just stares, but the venom in her eyes digs in. I ignore her. I don’t need to acknowledge her presence to know she’s watching, waiting for a chance to poke and provoke.
“Selene,” Asher murmurs, his voice low and intimate, carrying a weight that makes my skin prickle. “Stay close.”
I glance at him, lips curling.
