Ashina’s pov

Her eyes were wide with surprise, but a wicked smile spread across her face, one that made my stomach twist in knots. The room felt smaller, the air too thick to breathe. I opened my mouth to say something, to explain, but no words came out. I glanced at Daniel, hoping he could somehow fix this, but he looked as lost as I felt. His hand dropped from my waist, his expression falling from tenderness to frustration.

“Well,” Erica drawled, her voice cutting through the silence ...