Amara POV

I hated the silence between us after Cassian’s words after Eli’s truth cracked open the wall I’d so carefully built. The guilt sat like a weight on my chest.

“I should’ve told you,” I murmured, the apology barely leaving my lips. “I didn’t mean to keep you in the dark. I just… I wasn’t ready.”

Cassian’s expression didn’t harden like I feared. Instead, he nodded slowly, stepping closer until the air between us was warm again.

“I get it,” he said softly. ...