Aliyah's' POV

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly, like he didn’t believe me but wouldn’t press yet.

“So why here?” I asked, shifting the conversation.

“Because I don’t believe in coincidences,” he said. “You. Me. The way we keep crossing paths.”

The words made my throat tighten. He didn’t know how dangerous it was for me to be around him, not just because of my secret, but because of the strange pull he carried, one I didn’t want to feel, not now, ...