Darius slammed the heavy wooden door of his study so hard the frame rattled, the sound echoing down the empty hallway like a thunderclap.
He paced the length of the room in long, restless strides, his golden-brown eyes dark with turmoil. His raven hair was messy from running his hands through it repeatedly. He stopped at the window, gripping the frame with both hands until the wood creaked under his fingers, staring out into the night as if he could see across the distance to her.
Lira slipped into the room quietly, her fiery red hair cascading over one shoulder. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, watching him with a soft, calculated smile. “Darius, you’ve been like this for days. Come here. Let me help you relax.”
He didn’t turn around. His shoulders remained rigid.
