Dorian's gaze locked onto the bracelet. Before Catherine realized what he intended, his hand lifted toward her wrist, as if to touch it, to remove it, as if he had the right.
And something inside her snapped.
A sharp, instinctive surge of strength rose from somewhere deep in her chest. "Don't—"
Her hands shoved him away, hard, before she could think.
Dorian stumbled back two full steps, caught completely off guard. His heel nearly caught on the edge of the polished floor before he managed to steady himself.
For a moment, even he looked shocked.
Catherine had already stepped back. Her other hand flew to her wrist, covering the bracelet protectively. Guarding it.
Her breathing turned shallow.
The bracelet had already opened once when Dorian touched it in the past.
And now… Her fingers curled tighter around it.
Was she protecting herself? Her autonomy?
