She didn’t know what he was.
But one truth settled deep inside her chest, undeniable:
She had never been more protected, or more terrified, in her life.
Aisha swallowed hard, staring at him as he stood just inside the doorway, snow melting off his clothes and dripping onto the floorboards.
His breathing was uneven. His shoulders trembled with tension. And the faint streaks of blood—she didn’t even know if they were his or something else—made her heart twist painfully.
He didn’t look at her at first.mm
He simply braced a hand against the wall, catching his breath, jaw clenching as though every inhale hurt.
And all she could think was:
He’s injured because of me.
Her feet moved before her thoughts could catch up. “You’re hurt…”
His head lifted slightly at the sound of her voice. H
