Yenik's gaze dropped to where my hand rested on Lewis's.
For a brief moment, his face went blank. Like something inside him had cracked. He looked at me the way people do when they realize the past doesn't belong to them anymore.
Once, I had followed him everywhere. Built my world around his attention.
Now, I was standing beside someone else calm, steady, unmoved.
Men like Yenik only understood distance after it was too late. When you chased them, they grew bored. When you walked away, they suddenly felt cheated. Their pride didn't know how to handle balance.
His eyes searched my face, hunting for the girl who used to beg him to stay.
She wasn't there.
I didn't lower my gaze. I didn't tighten my grip. I didn't feel anything at all.
Beside me, Lewis sat in quiet control. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to. The space around him settled naturally, like it knew where it belonged. People leaned in without realizing why.
Lincy finally saw him up close.
