Emilia's POV
The moment I heard that voice, my whole body froze. That deep, rough voice that could make my heart stop and race at the same time.
“Maximus…” I whispered, barely breathing his name.
The darkness around us thickened. His grip on my wrist tightened—not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me I wasn’t going anywhere. The shadows shifted, and then I saw him. His face came into view beneath the moonlight, his eyes glowing that familiar, dangerous gold.
He looked wild. His hair was messy, his jaw tight, and his chest rose and fell like he’d been running for miles. There was anger in his eyes—anger, confusion, and something else. Something deeper.
I swallowed hard. “What… what are you doing here?”
He didn’t answer right away. He just stared at me, his eyes scanning my face li
