Chapter 139
Kael knew something was wrong the moment Ariana stopped responding.
It wasn't just silence. It was the kind that felt distant, like her attention had shifted somewhere he couldn't follow. Her hand was still pressed against his chest, her fingers gripping his shirt tightly, but the tension in her body had changed. Instead of pushing back against the pressure, she seemed to be holding something in.
His grip tightened around her without hesitation, pulling her closer as if the contact alone could keep her anchored. "Ariana," he said, his voice firm, leaving no room for hesitation. "Stay with me."
She didn't answer right away.
That hesitation was enough to send a sharp edge of unease through him. He lifted his hand to her face, his fingers firm against her jaw, forcing her to look at him. Her eyes met his, but something behind them had shifted. They were still clear, still aware, but there was a distance in them now that hadn't been there before.
