Evaline:
Kieran's gaze could have frozen fire.
I had mostly seen him being calm, kind, and warm. Still, there were moments where he wasn't so calm and kind... rare moments. But this was different. His arms were folded across his chest, the light from the tall study windows cutting sharp lines over his jaw, making him look more immovable than the stone walls around us.
"No," he said flatly, the single word leaving no room for argument.
But of course, I argued.
"Kieran, I'm not asking for much. I just want access to the archives in the old headquarters. That's it. I'm not asking to interrogate suspects or run after leads or-"
"Evaline." My name cracked like thunder when he cut me off. His voice wasn't raised, but it was heavy, commanding, the kind of tone that made every bone in my body still against its will. "You are not stepping one foot inside those archives. Not now. Not ever."
I flinched, not from fear but from the sheer finality of it.
