Fear.
Warmth.
Relief.
Danger.
Want.
All tangled together.
“You barely know me,” I say.
Kael’s eyes soften—barely, but enough to steal the breath from my lungs.
“We know enough,” he murmurs.
Finn steps closer.“We know something’s hurting you.”
Atlas crosses his arms.“And we know we’ll kill it.”
My breath catches audibly.“Guys—”
Kael reaches out—slow, giving me time to pull away.
I don’t.
His fingertips brush the side of my elbow, grounding me in a way that feels intimate despite barely touching.
“You don’t have to tell us today,” he says softly.
My throat closes.
“But you’re not alone,” Finn adds.
“Not ever,” Atlas finishes.
The force of it hits me like a punch.
No one has said that to me in years.
Maybe ever.
I swallow the lump in my throat and nod once, because that’s all I can manage without breaking apart completely.
Kael steps back first, giving me air.Finn stays close but not suffocating.Atlas watches from the side like a guard dog coiled to snap at the next threat.
And for the first time since last night’s message, the fear doesn’t feel quite as sharp.
Because I am not alone in this building anymore.
And that might be the most dangerous part of all.
