Casian's smile softened, and he pushed away from the window, closing the distance between them. His fingers gently wrapped around hers, his touch warm, but his gaze troubled.
"Is this because of the mate bond… or am I changing?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His thumb brushed over her knuckles, a subtle, almost desperate gesture.
Lyra's breath caught. There it was...the vulnerability beneath his strength. She had always known Casian as sharp, unyielding—an Alpha who commanded without question. But this was different. This was a man fighting with emotions he didn't quite understand.
Her grip instinctively tightened around his, a silent reassurance.
"Maybe it's both," she said, her gaze never leaving his.
A faint laugh escaped him, but it was tinged with self-doubt. "Both, huh? I'm not sure which is more terrifying."
