Their quiet was as tense as a bowstring.
With fingers that were just missing her cheek, Kael's hand lingered in midair, a little quiver that revealed something more profound than hesitation: terror. The man who had braved death and darkness for her was not the one whose eyes met hers. Their eyes were wary and inquisitive, examining her as though she were a stranger who could pose a threat to him.
Seren swallowed, her throat raw. “Kael…”
Her words shattered the silence like a stone against glass, but it didn't break his trance; instead, he blinked slowly, his jaw tensing, and his eyes scanned her face as if mapping every feature in search of an answer he couldn't identify.
"Which one are you?" he finally inquired. He spoke in a low, cautious tone that lacked the strong assurance she
