FIA
I watched Cian's face crumble before he could catch it, and something in my chest twisted hard. His eyes were glassy. Red-rimmed. The kind of look that came from holding everything in too long until your body betrayed you anyway.
"Cian, are you alright?"
He crossed the space between us in two strides and pulled me against him. His arms locked around me, tight enough that I could feel the tremor running through his shoulders. I wrapped my arms around his back and held on, not saying anything, not asking for anything. I just had to be there while he fell apart in the only way he'd allow himself to.
Over his shoulder, I caught movement. Aldric walked past us, and when our eyes met, his expression shifted. I saw something smug and cunningly knowing. It was that same sharp smile from the courtyard. He kept walking, disappearing around the corner without a word.
My blood went cold, but I kept my grip steady on Cian.
