Amara sat in the living room with the lights dimmed, her leg bouncing against the floor as she tried to calm the restless pounding in her chest. She had been waiting for Leo ever since she left Adrian in that alley with his dark laugh echoing in her ears. She could still feel the cold wall behind her back, the shadow of his words crawling over her skin. And then Leo’s voice, sharp and protective, had cut through the fear. But he had walked away after, silent and burning. He hadn’t said a word to her on the way home. He had just gone upstairs, and now she sat here, forcing herself not to cry until he came down again.
The front door clicked open and she jumped. He stepped inside, his shoulders tense, his head low like he was carrying something heavy. She rose at once, her throat tightening.
