The bathroom door slammed against the wall as Luca rushed out, droplets of water still clinging to his damp skin.
His chest heaved as though he had run a mile, his hair tousled and dripping.
He didn't care... The moment he had heard her scream, instinct had propelled him forward.
He wrapped his arms tightly around Alessia from behind, pulling her into the fortress of his body.
His voice was raw with urgency.
"What is it? Why did you scream?"
Alessia trembled against him, her heartbeat wild, uneven.
She didn't know how to say it, how to tear open the truth that had been clawing at her soul since Virenkai.
She had rehearsed the words in silence, in whispers to the dark.. but now that his warmth enveloped her, fear nearly silenced her.
"I…" Her voice cracked. "I wanted to tell you this during our midnight conversation, but.... "
