Maria.
I stood frozen in the arena, my mind still trying to piece together everything Galen had said. Her words, the way she had vanished, the sheer audacity—it was all too much. My thoughts swirled in confusion, and for a moment, I didn't even realize I was standing in the middle of the chaos, exposed and vulnerable.
Then, out of nowhere, I became acutely aware of a presence beside me, almost like the air itself had shifted. Before I could even process what was happening, Noah's hand shot out and gripped mine with a strength that was both surprising and grounding.
His fingers closed around mine firmly, anchoring me in place, and a strange sense of calm began to weave through my chest despite the chaos surrounding us.
I looked up, and my gaze met his—emerald eyes so vivid and intense that it felt like they pierced straight through me. There was focus there, an unwavering sharpness that made it impossible to look away.
