Kayden’s POV
Finally, she was asleep.
I was on my side, elbow digging into the mattress, just… watching her. Even now, she didn’t look restful. Her eyebrows were pulled together. Her mouth had that little downturn at the corners. Like she was carrying every problem she’d ever had right into her dreams.
It made my own chest ache. A stupid, physical reaction I didn’t ask for.
I shook my head a little. i***t. Cut it out.
This was just work. A job. The plan was simple: get close, get her to trust me. Telling her the truth about the poison—or a slice of it—was a solid move. Made me look like a turncoat. Made her think I was her new best weapon against Silas. She believed me. She let me stay.
But the other thing… that was messing me up.
Right from the start, from that first second in the
