Lila's fingers are still twisted in the front of my shirt when the room exhales. Her breath trembles against my chest. The pressure has receded, but its echo lingers — like thunder still rolling somewhere beyond the horizon.
And then Kai moves.
He snaps.
His hand clamps onto my shoulder and shoves — hard enough to break contact, hard enough to force me back a step.
Lila stumbles forward as the space between us breaks.
"What the f**k are you?" Kai demands, voice raw, vibrating with fear he refuses to name. He plants himself between us, one arm half-extended in front of Lila without looking at her.
Protective.
Instinctive.
Terrified.
Her father steps closer too, fury rekindling now that fear has somewhere to go.
"I knew it," he growls. "Nothing like that happens unless something e
