~Elara~
The question hung between us. I stared at him—at the powerful lines of his shoulders, the intensity of his gaze, the barely leashed power evident in every movement he made. Was he a monster? The logical part of my brain said yes. But something deeper, something I couldn't quite name within me, whispered a different answer.
"I need air," I murmured instead, reaching for the door.
"Elara—" Caleb started.
"Just give me a minute!" I said, yanking open the door and stumbling into a spacious great room. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a wraparound deck overlooking dense forest. I found the sliding door and stepped outside.
For some minutes, I only wanted to enjoy the cool night air hitting my feverish skin like a blessing. And the mountain air filling my lungs—crisp, clean, carryi
