“Aiden…” Alina whispered, her voice soft as she slowly turned to face him.

When their eyes met, she finally saw it clearly; regret, sorrow, and something even deeper. His eyes held a quiet fear. Not fear of her, but of what might happen again. Fear that the food she made could hurt him... the way he’d once been poisoned.

Still, he didn’t look away. He looked at her like a man trying to believe, wanting to trust.

Alina took a step closer, lifting her hand to his face, her ...