Nathaniel's arms were wrapped around me, warm and steady, but it felt like an anchor dragging me down to a place I didn't want to be.
I tried to breathe, to calm the storm raging inside me, but my chest felt tight, my thoughts like a whirlwind that refused to settle. The courtyard was cold, the wind biting at my skin, and yet his embrace felt… safe, even if I didn't want it to be.
"Aeliana," he whispered, his voice soft against my ear. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything. Just breathe."
I forced myself to take a breath, shaky and uneven. Nathaniel's presence was grounding, his hand gently rubbing circles on my back, and for a brief moment, I let myself lean into him, needing the comfort, needing something solid to hold onto.
But even as I did, I couldn't shake the image of Ciara from my mind her face, her eyes meeting mine right after Cassandra's lips had touched hers.
