She stood trembling, torn between fury and heartbreak. "Then fight for me, Lucas. Don't stand in towers like a ghost while I fall apart."
He met her eyes now, and something in him cracked wide open.
"You think watching you choose another man didn't break me?" he whispered. "You think I stood there coldly? I had to dig my nails into the stone to keep from dragging him away from you."
"Then why didn't you?" she whispered.
"Because you're not mine to cage."
Athena moved then, fists slamming into his chest, not to hurt, but to feel.
"You are allowed to be jealous. You're allowed to be angry. I need to know you care that much."
"I care too much," he rasped, catching her wrists. "And that's exactly why I was silent. Because one more wrong word, and I might've killed a man who still bleeds for you."
Silence crackled.
Their breath. Their hearts. The bond between them pulling tight, tighter.
Lucas let go of her wrists slowly, but didn't move away.
