Rayla sat by the window in her favorite café, the soft hum of chatter and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee surrounding her. The sunlight streaming through the glass warmed her skin as she lost herself in the pages of a novel, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edges of the book, in her favorite spot as usual, her little corner of peace where she could escape the chaos of her life, even if just for a little while.
She was so engrossed in the story that she didn’t notice Avri approaching until he cleared his throat, the sound sharp and deliberate. Startled, Rayla looked up, her eyes widening in surprise before narrowing into a frown. Her guard went up immediately. She hadn’t spoken to Avri in a while, and she had no intention of starting now.
“Avri,” she said flatly, closing her book
