-Everly-
Calliope hadn't explicitly confirmed it. She hadn't directly uttered the words before now: My mate was not good to me. However, I had been suspicious, and her reaction in the elevator only confirmed my fears, suggesting there was something painful lingering beneath the surface. She seemed like a caged animal in there, her demeanor shifting abruptly from arousal and readiness to tension and fear.
It was a switch I hadn't witnessed in many people. Those who had endured prolonged abuse often reacted this way when triggered. It appeared I had inadvertently struck a nerve with Calliope, yet I didn't fully comprehend the nature of the trigger or what had transpired. I needed her to communicate with me. I needed her to articulate her thoughts so that I could be better prepared in the
