ADANNA POV (Point of view)
The river narrowed, mist curling in sheets around the boat, cloaking us in a fragile veil. My hands hovered over Eden's pulse, feeling it surge with every shift of the water, every tug of the engine. It wasn't just a machine, not anymore, it was alive or responding to me, and I could feel its awareness threading through the night like electricity.
Darian's eyes never left the water ahead, scanning, calculating, muscles coiled, ready to act, and I, for the first time, felt fully tethered to him, the storm and danger only amplifying our connection.
"Darian," I whispered, leaning against his shoulder, "what if they..."
"Don't," he cut me off softly, brushing my hair from my face. "They won't. Not while I breathe, not while you hold this pulse."
