Claire's pov

As we pulled away from each other, I felt a sense of excitement and happiness wash over me. I had been worried about Darien, and I was relieved that he was safe. The tension and fear that had been building up inside me during the battle began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of warmth and connection.

But as we stood there, looking at each other, I started to feel a sense of unease creeping in. Darien's expression had changed, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at me. His ...