**Gaia's POV**

After Lysander's unwelcome advance, I find myself thinking about Astrein constantly.

I miss him. Miss his steady presence, his quiet strength, the way he looked at me like I was something precious and rare. Even now, knowing what I saw—what everyone saw in that terrible moment—I can't stop my heart from aching for him.

The mate bond still pulls at me, a constant reminder of what we had. Or what I thought we had.

But reason tells me I can't think ...