Chris stepped in to separate them, but Mason was faster—he pulled Aurora behind him, his protective stance clear. The warmth and smile he had for Aurora vanished completely as he looked at Chris. His gaze turned sharp and icy.

"Do you really have to be backed into a corner to finally realize—some people are just out of your reach?"

The power Mason held was something Chris could never attain, no matter how hard he worked in this lifetime. And every time that gap ...