Varion didn’t move at first, but the air between us shifted.
Heavy.
Heated.
His presence was like a shadow that wrapped around me, even though he hadn’t even touched me. Slowly, he stepped closer, the faint brush of his arm near mine making my skin spark with awareness.
“You think survival here means being alone,” he said, his voice quiet, deliberate.
“It doesn’t. Not for you.”
I forced myself to look at him, and immediately regretted it. His blue eyes caught mine, sharp as ice but burning all the same, and my chest tightened. My lips parted before I could stop them, but no words came out.
“You have me, I swear, I will keep you safe.” he added, so matter-of-factly it stole my breath. My heart thudded hard against my ribs. I should have argued, denied it, told him that I didn’t n
