Chapter 76
"No," Callie admitted. "They never explained themselves. They simply appeared, taught me what they needed to teach me, and vanished again without a trace." She hesitated, something old and instinctive rising sharp in her chest now, old caution finally catching up with the momentum of her unguarded confession. "I don't know why I'm telling you this," she said, voice suddenly uncertain. "I've never told anyone, not even Luca. I don't know what made me think—"
"Callie," Chase said gently, reaching carefully toward her hand, though he stopped short of actually touching her, mindful of her sudden, visible retreat. "You can trust me with this. I promise you that."
"I want to," Callie said, though fear had crept back into her voice now, old instinct screaming at her to stop, to retr
