Cassian didn’t hesitate. “I requested a room transfer.”

The words barely landed before it hit.

Pain.

Sharp. Sudden. Like glass slicing through my chest.

I flinched.

So did he.

At the exact same time.

His hand shot to his side. Mine pressed against my ribs. For a second, we just stood there, staring at each other, both breathing a little too hard.

“Yeah,” I said under my breath. “That’s working great.”

His jaw tightened. “It will.”

“Is that what you call this?” ...