Casian's breath caught the moment the words slipped out—a brutal, unfiltered truth that hung between them like a curse. Regret struck him like a tidal wave, fierce and unforgiving. He hadn't meant to say it—not like that, not with such raw, unguarded honesty.
But there it was.
And in front of him, Lyra stood perfectly still, her wide, tear-filled eyes a mirror of his own self-loathing. Her lips curved into a fragile, trembling smile—a mask that shattered the moment she stepped back.
"I-I didn't mean—" Casian's voice faltered, the apology stumbling and dying in his throat.
Lyra's fingers brushed away the tears streaking her cheeks, but her gaze never wavered.
"You're not betraying anyone, Casian," she whispered, the words as sharp as a dagger, her voice steady but hollow. "The mate bond is the only reason you feel anything for me."
