ey approached, an eerie calm su

nce first, her footsteps echoi

tension radiating from him that

und him like a

g was wrong even before

east wing while Rylan remained

door to an u

e your space

s she entered

felt like a beautifu

left th

oment, they s

er face, her hands, the sli

are; she reminded herse

within him w

focusing on the

over me as if I might r

more complicated th

but she noticed a shi

aster and m

he moved

th around her, mixed wit

ed," Rylan murmured,

rowed he

erstand what

e could sense it even wi

s widening as if somethi

e," he urg

heart pounding viol

began to ris

ot aggressively, but firml

rough her arm

pulse throbbed jus

ed back i

ust hap

ssion turned

hing beca

t have happene

to her wrist, feelin

at is happen

again, more inte

ing the doorframe as if

, and a faint golden lig

rned, his voice ro

ting... to

tood s

r awareness of hi

ponding to?" sh

es shut, battling wit

ou

r like a jolt o

h caught in

e?

ed growl, a sound that was bo

it's trying t

rt raced p

dly know ea

t a harsh, b

't matter t

against the wall, sp

s thick wi

k until her back

ouched her still pulsed

posed to do?"

en, filled with desperat

to do anything

hed down by the struggle

you. I won't let

aled s

y from me

the door, a mix o

lend of worry and something

he paused, grip

as soft, al

never have t

d into the shadows

to the bed, her w

or connections or why her pre

thing wa

g with a much greater fo