The silence between them had grown fragile. Every word carried more weight now, every gnce another unspoken risk. Rynaria had spent the st three days trying to stay away from Kael, but the tension between them refused to fade. If anything, it had only grown stronger.

  The Thornridge heir had backed off—physically. But she still felt him watching her. Not always directly, but in subtle ways: a gnce from across the town square, the echo of his footsteps behind her, the scent of pine and wild air lingering where he’d stood moments before.

  She tried to ignore it.

  Tried to focus on blending in, gathering what she needed, staying out of sight. But her nerves were always on edge. And her thoughts always circled back to him.

  She hated how much of her mind he occupied.

  Rynaria pulled her hood lower as she exited the shop, the small paper sack of bread and dried fruit tucked against her chest. The woman behind the counter had smiled, unaware of the storm Rynaria carried with her. Just another quiet girl buying groceries. No one special.

  But Kael saw more.

  He always had.

  The wind shifted as she stepped into the open street, and her heart stuttered—because she felt it again. That strange charge in the air. That familiar, wordless pull.

  She didn’t need to look to know he was there.

  And yet, she did.

  Kael stood a dozen paces away, half in shadow, arms crossed, gaze unreadable. He didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Just watched her with that look she was learning to fear—and crave.

  She should’ve turned away.

  Instead, she crossed the square and walked straight toward him.

  “I thought I asked you to give me space,” she said quietly, voice low but firm.

  Kael’s head tilted slightly. “You did. I just didn’t agree.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Because you keep pretending we’re not already caught in something bigger than both of us.”

  Rynaria’s breath hitched. “This isn’t a game, Kael.”

  “I know.” His voice softened. “That’s why I’m still here.”

  For a moment, they just stood there, the town moving around them—oblivious. Unaware that an elf and a werewolf stood face to face, hearts caught on the edge of a bde.

  “I don’t know what you want from me,” she said finally.

  Kael didn’t blink. “I don’t want anything from you, Rynaria. But I think you’re tired of running.”

  He was right.

  She hated him for being right.

  Before she could speak again, a sound broke the moment—a sharp whistle, followed by distant howling. Not the wind.

  Not animals.

  Rynaria froze. So did Kael.

  “They found you,” he said, his voice turning cold.

  Her heart dropped. “How?”

  “They’ve been sniffing around for days.” His tone was sharp now, all warmth gone. “I tried to keep them off your trail.”

  “You knew?”

  Kael didn’t answer.

  Because he had.

  Rynaria stepped back, instincts fring. “You led them here?”

  “No,” he snapped. “But if we don’t move now, they’ll catch us both.”

  Another howl split the air—closer this time.

  Kael grabbed her hand, and for a moment, she let him.

  Then they ran.