Ivy stood frozen, bare skin glistening faintly from the steam of her bath. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, drops trailing down in slow paths that made every curve more visible. The air shifted. Silence slammed into the room like a blade.

Cassien’s eyes widened, his mouth parting, unable to form a word. Darius smirked faintly, but his gaze lingered, sharp and unashamed. Damien’s jaw tightened, his face unreadable, though his clenched hand betrayed him.

She shifted, her fingers curling ...