"Don't start." Jaxon looked away, irritation etched across his face.
Aurora brought her hand to grab his cheek, forcing him to look at her. "Is… it… about… Ember?"
Jaxon flinched at her touch but didn't pull away. "It's not about her," he replied, his voice low and strained. "I've told you that."
"Oh really?" Aurora's tone was laced with disbelief. "Then why is she always in the back of your mind? You've been so preoccupied lately, Jaxon. It's like you're living in a shadow."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Aurora, I have responsibilities in Wales. I can't just drop everything and stay here with you. And I can't go back there without my queen." His eyes darkened, the frustration boiling beneath the surface. "We haven't even properly had sex since you've been so busy with your modeling and the company that isn't yours. It feels like I'm living with a stranger."
