Auren POV

When I shifted my arm to rest it on the center console, Lorien flinched away. The movement was small but sharp enough to sting. I exhaled, long and frustrated, then reached for the radio and turned the volume up just to keep Rion from talking.

It worked. The rest of the drive sank into tense silence that only grew heavier the closer we got to town.

By the time I pulled into the driveway, the air in the car felt suffocating. Everyone unbuckled before I’d even put it in park. The ...