ISOLDE
“Who is inside there?” I yelled, though my voice shook so bad it barely sounded like mine. My throat burned from holding back tears. “Come out now, before...”
The words froze as the door opened fully.
He stepped into view.
Finnian?
His tall frame filled the doorway, his shoulders drawn tight, his dark hair falling down to his neck. His eyes, goddess, they were red, wet, and tired.
Wait… what?
Did he cry?
“Isolde,” he called softly, and for a moment his voice didn’t sound like his. It was low, careful, as if the wrong word might break me. “What happened? Why are you crying?”
My chest ached harder at how gentle he sounded.
I stepped inside, closing the door behind me, and before I could think, I threw myself into his arms.
His chest was bare, warm, and strong, everything wa
