The moment didn't end.
It snapped forcefully. Someone had reached into the room and ripped it apart.
Aire barely had time to breathe before it happened.
The door burst open, unannounced. The shift in the air was immediate, heavy, and dangerous.
Alaric stood at the entrance.
His eyes were already locked on Xanden, on the way he was too close, and on the way Aire's fingers were still curled into his shirt.
His jaw tightened.
He moved fastly towards them. Too fast for Aire to react as she had only had time to forcefully part the kiss.
Xanden barely turned fully before Alaric's hand caught his collar, and forcefully dragged him back.
The force of it broke whatever fragile thing had been holding the moment together.
Aire gasped at the sudden loss of warmth, and closeness. It had hit her harder than she expected.
Her body reacted before her mind could.
She took in a small, involuntary inhale. Like she had just been dropped from somewhere high without her permission.
