The courtyard was heavy with silence after Amara fled. Julian stood frozen, Cassian's grin long gone, Orion's teasing cut short, and Selene's sharp tongue muted. The cousins exchanged uneasy glances, whispers rising like smoke.
Adrian rose from his chair, his eyes steady, his decision already made. He turned to Aiden, his voice low but commanding. "Take care of everyone. Keep them calm."
Aiden nodded without hesitation, stepping forward to steady the group as their reactions bubbled — Cassian muttering under his breath, Orion shaking his head, Lyra's eyes narrowing with jealousy.
Without another word, Adrian left the courtyard, his footsteps quick but controlled. He followed the path Amara had taken, the echo of her hurried retreat guiding him.
Inside the bathroom, Amara leaned against the sink, her breath uneven, her hands trembling. She stared at her reflection, her chest rising and falling with the weight of what had just happened. Julian's kiss still burned on her cheek, his grip on her hands replaying in her mind like chains.
The door creaked open. Adrian stepped inside quietly, his presence calm but firm. He didn't speak at first, only watching her with steady eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice carrying concern without pity.
Amara wiped at her face quickly, forcing a small nod. "I'm fine," she whispered, though her voice cracked.
Adrian didn't move, his gaze steady. "Amara… are you sure?" he asked again, quieter this time.
Her composure broke. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks as she shook her head. "No… I'm not fine," she admitted, her voice trembling. "He wouldn't let me go. He kept saying he loved me, but it didn't feel like love. It felt… like force."
Adrian's jaw tightened, but his tone remained gentle. "You don't have to explain. I saw enough."
Amara turned away from the mirror, facing him. For a moment, her defenses fell, and the vulnerability she had hidden all evening surfaced.
"I don't know what's happening to me," she whispered. "I thought I wanted him. But tonight… I just wanted to run."
Adrian stepped closer, not touching her, but his presence was enough to steady her trembling. "You don't have to decide anything right now. Just breathe. You're safe."
Her eyes met his, and for the first time, she felt a strange comfort in his silence — a quiet strength that Julian's loud declarations could never give her.
Outside, the cousins' voices carried faintly through the walls, their reactions still buzzing under Aiden's watch. But in that small room, the world felt different. It was no longer about family games or forced affection. It was about truth — the kind Amara could no longer ignore.