**Gaia's POV**

Isabella freezes. For a moment, genuine shock flashes across her carefully composed features—as if she never expected me to confront her so directly, to challenge her territorial behavior in front of Astrein.

The awkward silence stretches, heavy and uncomfortable. I can feel the tension crackling in the air between us.

Then Astrein moves to my side, his hand settling on my shoulder with familiar warmth. The touch itself is comforting, protective—exactly ...