Gideon’s POV

The moment I heard the footsteps, every instinct in me sharpened. I slipped out of bed, barely making a sound, and reached for the shirt I’d discarded earlier. Evelyn sat up slowly, clutching the sheet to her chest, her eyes wide and alert.

“Stay here,” I said quietly.

She opened her mouth to protest, but I was already moving. I crossed the room in a few long strides and pressed myself against the wall near the door. The steps were ...