Lyra's POV
Alaric's gaze swept over me, taking in every detail from my flushed face to my trembling hands. His eyes lingered there before dropping lower, noticing how intimately close my body was pressed against Ash's muscled form. His jaw tightened, nostrils flaring with barely contained emotion before he took a deliberate step backward. His hand rose to cover his mouth as he turned away, struggling for composure. When he finally faced us again, exhaustion etched every line of his features.
"How I choose to train Miss Cooper during my designated hours remains my decision," he said, his voice strained with fatigue. "What methods you employ during your own time are entirely your concern."
