Chloe's POV

We return to the room together, but Lysander doesn't stay. He grabs a stack of bills from his drawer, shoving them into his pocket.

He's leaving. Again.

"Please don't go." The words come out broken, pathetic. I hate how weak I sound, but I can't stop. "Lysander, please—"

"I have to—"

"No, you don't!" My voice rises. "Gaia is strong now. Incredibly strong. She doesn't need your protection. But there's a dangerous rogue liaison in our interrogation ...