Dravina’s POV

"I feared your life was in danger," Cassian said, his tone low, deliberate, as though each word was a stone he placed carefully between us.

I frowned, studying him. He knew something. Or at least he believed he did.

"Everything I did was to shield you."

He let out a slow, weighted breath, his voice rough when he finally admitted, "I let my insecurities ruin everything. But my only purpose was to protect you to keep you hidden from the darkness that consumes our world."

I ...