_Nathan’s POV_
Miles didn’t leave after Theo went to check the annex.
He stayed standing near the desk with his hands braced on the back of the chair, head down, breathing like he was counting through the urge to break something. The official message from Rowan still sat face-down on the desk between us, polite enough to make the whole afternoon feel unreal.
“You need to stop looking at me like that,” I said.
“Like what?”
“Like if you stare long enough the rest of the story will fall out of my mouth.”
Miles lifted his head. “Will it?”
I didn’t answer.
He pushed off the chair and crossed the room. Not fast. Not gentle either. When he stopped in front of me, the space between us felt narrower than the room should have allowed.
“I’m not asking because I think you wanted him,” he said
