Ella felt the weight of the room shift with every passing second. Slowly, she released her hands from Valen's grip, her eyes meeting his briefly before she took a step back to address both him and Derek. Valen’s demeanor changed instantly, a flicker of unease crossing his face at her withdrawal. He didn’t lash out, though; instead, he kept his emotions tightly guarded, as if he knew her resistance was deserved.

Derek stood there, his expression conflicted, his eyes locked on her. He ...