Meret’s eyes darted upward, expecting Bruce to come to her rescue. Instead, she froze, taking in the figure before her… an impossibly striking male, perhaps her age or slightly older, with sharp Orea hair that gleamed even in the dim light, and eyes so piercing they felt like they could cut through steel.

He breathed heavily, his gaze sweeping over Cassia sprawled on the floor before settling firmly on Meret. “Are you okay? Actually… don’t answer that,” he muttered, voice low but ...