~ KILLIAN ~

Lyra casts one last glance at Tess before slipping out of the room. I wait for the soft click of the door before turning the lock with quiet finality.

Tess’s head snaps toward the sound, her spine straightening and her shoulders going stiff with even more tension.

I stand there between her and the door—cutting off her only means of escape.

Her eyes narrow, and my reaction is immediate.

The air ...