Chapter 702 - Predators Love Statues (End)

The fabric of her pants, threadbare from days of unyielding purpose, snagged on the jagged lip of the slot's stone. A soft rip, barely audible, like a leaf parting from its stem in a quiet wind. It wasn't a loud tear, not a dramatic unraveling, but a subtle yielding where her thigh pressed against his, where the world had already decided there was no space for pretense. The sound sank into the marsh's gel, swallowed by the damp cradle that held them. Her breath hitched, a sharp intake, as the tear widened, exposing skin to the cool air and the warmth of him.