ARIA
He hunched his shoulders and lowered his head, like he was trying to take up less space. It didn't feel accidental. It felt practiced. Like he knew exactly how intimidating he could be and chose not to be.
He stopped well short of me and slid his hands into his pockets, keeping them there. No man had ever done that with me before. Not once.
Not even Kael had tried this hard to make me feel safe back when he thought I was just a shattered girl clinging to survival.
That kind of care caught me off guard.
It felt clean. Honest.
Slowly, I stood. "I'll go ask."
"No need," Nyssa said as the door opened. She stepped outside without hurry, calm as ever.
Behind her, Kael and Corvin left the Timber Quarters. I didn't look at them right away. My focus stayed on Thane.
Kael carried pow
