Aurora truly thought he would snap.
For a brief, suspended moment after she forced that bitter concoction down his throat, the air between them had turned dangerously still. It was the kind of stillness that came right before violence.
But to her surprise, Asher didn't throw her in the stream like she anticipated. Instead, he let out a slow, controlled breath, as if swallowing not just the medicine but also his irritation. His jaw tightened slightly, his brows furrowed, but he said nothing.
Aurora narrowed her eyes faintly, studying him for a second longer before deciding not to question a rare moment of peace. In his case, silence was preferable to attempted murder.
Without another word, she grabbed his hand and pulled it toward herself, pressing two fingers against his wrist.
The sudden contact startled Asher. His muscles tensed instantly, and his instincts screamed at him to pull away. But just as quickly, he paused when he saw she had closed her eyes.
