I stare at him.
Because this isn’t the same Ethan from earlier.
This isn’t the man who watched me like a problem he wanted to solve.
This is something else entirely.
“You said I wasn’t prey,” I say.
His gaze locks onto mine.
“You’re not.”
“Then stop treating me like I am.”
“I’m not.”
“You literally just told me not to move.”
“And you didn’t.”
“That doesn’t mean?—”
“It means you trust me,” he cuts in.
The words land before I can stop them.
Because he’s right.
Because I did.
Because I didn’t even think about it.
My jaw tightens. “That doesn’t mean I’m okay with you turning into… whatever this is.”
His mouth curves slightly.
Not amused.
Not soft.
Sharp.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
A shiver runs down my spine.
Not entirely fear.
Not entirely anything I want to name.
“Then maybe you should explain it to me,” I say, lifting my chin. “Because right now, it feels like you’re about to do something reckless.”
“Not reckless.”
“Then what?”
“Effective.”
