For just a second, she thought she saw his iris flicker—a shadow passing over the usual steel gray, turning them almost black. Then it was gone so quickly she wondered if she'd imagined it.
Zephyr, who usually stayed in the shadows, now stood directly in her path. His tall frame blocked the narrow corridor. For a brief moment, something flickered across his face—something raw and unguarded—before he pulled his mask back on.
"You're still here," he said, his voice rough. "I thought Lucian would have broken you by now."
Laura lifted her chin. "Sorry to disappoint."
"I'm not disappointed," he replied, his eyes never leaving her face. "Just... surprised."
The longer he looked at her, the more her pulse raced. Her skin felt too tight, too sensitive. She noticed dark circles under his eyes,
