Elias’s POV

For a long moment, neither of us moved.

Ronan’s forehead rested lightly against mine, his aura wrapped around my frayed control like a bandage pulled tight but careful. The collar still throbbed, but the panic had receded, pushed back under a weight that wasn’t mine alone anymore.

I wasn’t used to that; sharing the strain.

Not carrying everything by myself.

My fingers were still curled into the fabric of his sleeve. I forced them to release, but they shook violently when ...