Marcus follows me out, though he keeps a respectful distance, leaning against the doorframe as the cool night air rushes into the warm penthouse.
"I can promise you honey that you are safe I won't let anyone hurt you".
I hum looking out over the balcony.
I can hear the distant hum of the city below—sirens, tires on asphalt, the pulse of millions of lives—but up here, looking at the stars, it feels like we’re in a vacuum.
"The stars look the same as they did ten years ago," I whisper, my hands gripping the cold metal railing. "It’s the only thing that hasn't changed."
Marcus looks up, his profile sharp against the skyline. "They’re the only thing that stays in the same place while we’re busy burning everything down below," he says, his voice a low, gravelly hum.
He shifts his weight,
