Killian didn’t understand the sudden shift—he didn’t know that his confession of "having his heart" had sent her mind into a tailspin of disbelief and fear. To him, it was simply the truth, but he could feel the frantic rhythm of her pulse against his palm and the way her breath was hitching in shallow, panicked bursts.
"Raya, hey," he murmured, stepping even closer until the heat of his body was all she could perceive. He didn't ask what was wrong; he didn't demand an explanation. He just became her anchor. "I’ve got you. Just focus on my voice. We’re going to walk to the box, and then you can sit down. Just a few more steps."
He kept his arm locked around her waist, practically carrying her through the final stretch of the corridor. When they reached the private box, he signaled the at
