The door slammed shut behind Selene.
The sound echoed through the room like a warning.
Or a promise.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
I didn’t move.
Didn’t breathe.
Because Kael was still standing there.
And the look in his eyes—
It wasn’t calm.
It wasn’t cold.
It was something darker.
Controlled anger.
“Are you hurt?”
The question caught me off guard.
I blinked.
“No…”
My voice came out quieter than I intended.
He stepped closer anyway, his gaze scanning me like he didn’t quite believe it.
“Did you touch it?”
“The vial?” I shook my head. “Not really—it reacted before I could.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“Good.”
The single word carried more weight than it should have.
I glanced at the dark liquid still hissing on the floor.
“What was it?” I asked.
Kael’s e
