I froze the second I realized it was Evan standing there. My body reacted faster than my mind ever could—I tore myself out of his arms like his touch burned me, like my skin itself rejected him because of the bond I shared with Damian. My heart was still thundering from the rogue’s glowing eyes in the woods, but now another kind of panic swelled inside me.
“Are you okay?” Evan’s voice was low, thick with worry. His eyes searched my face, scanning me like he was trying to read the truth in my expression. Only then did I realize my cheeks were wet, streaked with tears I hadn’t even known were still falling.
I swiped at them quickly, rubbing my trembling fingers against my face and the trying to wipe it all away—the tears, the fear, the shame of breaking down like that. I hated that he had
