Lyra's POV
"This house feels suffocating when I want to stretch my legs," I said, pacing near the window. "I need to test these new abilities in the forest."
Ash immediately shook his head. "Absolutely not."
"I need to discover my limits," I pressed. "How else will we understand what I'm capable of now? This information could save our lives."
"You're not wrong," Ash conceded reluctantly. "But we still have vampire threats lurking out there. While we're focused on running, we become vulnerable to ambush."
His protective instinct warmed something deep in my chest, and I moved closer to him.
The moment I stepped forward, he deliberately looked away and backed up. The rejection stung like a physical blow, making my chest tighten with hurt.
We had all agreed to face this situation together. I believed he truly understood why sleeping with Xander had been crucial, why completing that bond mattered for all of us.
Now he was pulling away, radiating jealousy and resentment.
