PTE

ia's

ke a step back, he was

e, but he was close enough to trap me completely, leaving only

as though it had been waiting

the first thing I w

n anger and disbelief. "You think you can walk in here afte

inued, his eyes locked on mine without blinking. "Every place I could think of. And then you just appear here,

in, but there was no spa

more out of instinct than strength, trying

t from me?" I asked, though

moment it looked like he was ho

yourself right now? You vanished for five years, an

r, fear and anger twisting together in

et his eyes properly. "Of course I am the one you

his face faltering for a brief second as i

, more controlled but sharper in a different way. "You dis

there was no sound

" I said, my voice breaking slightly

seemed to catc

as if he was trying to read something deeper in my

ond, the door behind

cut through ou

ad

ation and before I knew it

expression shifting inst

ce without hesitation, as if h

ched Ethan and wrapped his

child said brightly, looking

his hands hovering for a second before r

, almost as if he was testing the

before I even

mpany name? W

them. The child looked completely at ease, like he

ith confusion anymore but with something deeper, something

o

d not be, I took a slow step back, my hand slipping

though I did not even

et go but I could not stay there anymore, nor with what I had just seen. Not with what I was start

fice, my steps unsteady, my heart pounding

d not lo