“You’re hiding something from me.”
Kieran’s voice was low, edged with something dangerous. He stood across the room, arms crossed over his chest, his entire frame rigid with tension. His golden eyes burned into mine, demanding, searching.
I forced myself to meet his gaze, even as my pulse pounded like a war drum in my ears. The air between us was thick, charged, as if the entire room had become a battlefield neither of us was willing to surrender.
“I’m not hiding anything,” I said evenly, though even I didn’t believe it.
His jaw ticked. “Lying to your mate is a dangerous game, Aria.”
A sharp flash of irritation shot through me. “Is it? Or is it only dangerous because I don’t need you to protect me anymore?”
The words left my mouth before I could stop them, and the second they did, th
