Raya didn’t breathe.
She couldn’t.
Not when he was standing this close. Not when her back was still half turned to the window and Riven—her Beta, her second, her storm—was standing behind her like a wall of heat and guilt and longing.
She had just asked the most dangerous question.
"Do you care?"
And his answer shattered the floor beneath her.
“I ache for you…
And that terrifies me more than losing her ever did.”
Her chest rose and fell, a war within her ribcage.
She blinked… then froze as she felt it—
His hand… pressed against the window frame beside her.
Then the other.
Caging her in.
Not rough. Not demanding.
But decisive.
Like his presence itself was a lock, and she… was his captive.
For a heartbeat, she thought of stepping away.
Of turning around and walking out.
But
