The doorway was a blade.

Not just a frame, not just an exit it sliced the steam in half, split the moment wide open. Every droplet in the room seemed to pause mid-air when he appeared.

Damien leaned against it, one shoulder propped like he owned the threshold. Rain still dripped from his hair, beads trailing down the side of his neck, catching in the open collar of his shirt. Half unbuttoned. Half untamed. His eyes cut through the haze like a searchlight, steady, cold, almost amused.

“You two ...