EVE's POV.
I lay sprawled on the couch, eyes closed, trying to sink into the rare comfort of someone else’s home. My body ached in ways I hadn’t realized until now—legs stiff, shoulders tense, heart still racing from the chaos of last night. Xavier sat beside me, his presence steady, grounding, yet somehow I could feel eyes on me even through the half-dark room, the way a shadow lingers too long in a corner.
“Thank you for saving my ass tonight,” I murmured, eyes still squeezed shut, as if saying it aloud might make it real.
“Why were you walking alone?” His voice was calm, steady, almost deceptively casual, but I could feel the concern beneath the surface.
“Personal issues.” I didn’t want to talk about it—not now, not ever, not here. The words felt heavy on my tongue. “Thank your wif
