His voice cut through the rain, but I didn’t turn. I couldn’t face him. Not now.
“Isadora, wait!” Cassian was closer now, his heavy footsteps splashing through the puddles as he caught up to me. His hand grabbed my arm, gently but firmly, turning me to face him. “Please, just listen to me.”
I wrenched my arm free, stepping back as the anger inside me flared. “No,” I spat, my voice trembling. “I don’t want to hear any more of your lies, Cassian. I can’t.”
His face was soaked from the rain, his dark hair sticking to his forehead. But his eyes—those piercing blue eyes—were filled with something raw, something vulnerable that made my heart clench.
“They weren’t lies,” he said softly, stepping closer. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you.”
“Protect me?” I laughed bitterly, th
