Dravina POV
I saw it in Malrik’s eyes the flicker of unease, the tight coil of tension held beneath his skin. The weight of what I’d shared with him pressed heavily on his shoulders, more than I’d anticipated.
He barely made it through breakfast.
His fingers tapped restlessly against the table, legs shifting beneath him, and he couldn’t quite meet my gaze as though looking at me might ignite the very air between us.
I knew him too well not to recognize the signs. He was bracing for action, itching to rise and confront the storm I’d just laid at his feet.
In another life the old version of me would’ve buried the discomfort. I would’ve swallowed the truth, smoothed it over with practiced smiles, pretending everything was fine just to maintain a fragile peace. I’d lived that way before t
