Lorien POV

Auren dragged his shirt over his head, muscles rippling beneath moonlight, his back broad and carved with strength. He tossed the fabric aside and moved several steps toward the trees toward danger, toward his duty then paused and looked back at me.

I lifted my hand, meaning to wave, but it froze mid-air, too heavy to lift all the way or lower again. Suddenly the space between us felt impossibly wide. My chest locked tight as I tried to breathe. How could someone I’d known only ...