The ride back to Kael's territory was filled with an uncomfortable silence, thick with unspoken tension. Lyra sat rigidly in the passenger seat of Kael's vehicle, her gaze fixed on the dark forest passing by. She hadn't said a word since agreeing to come with him, her emotions warring inside her.
Part of her didn't trust him anymore. Another part—one that she hated to admit—longed to believe him, to believe that Kael truly cared for her. But Ariadne's presence had shattered whatever fragile trust had started to grow between them. And now, all she could feel was doubt.
Kael's hands tightened on the steering wheel, his jaw set in a grim line as he drove. He could sense her distance, the cold barrier she had erected between them, but he didn't know how to break through it. His mind was spinning, trying to figure out how to fix the mess they were in, but every solution seemed too far out of reach.
"You're quiet," Kael said softly, his voice filled with uncertainty.
