Chapter 140
Kael saw the change in her before she spoke, and this time he reacted without hesitation. His hand tightened at the back of Ariana's neck, pulling her focus back to him as his gaze locked onto hers. "Stay with me," he said, his voice steady but sharp enough to ground her.
Ariana looked at him immediately, but the hesitation in her eyes hadn't disappeared. Her fingers tightened against his shirt as her breathing slowed in a way that didn't match the tension around them. It felt wrong, and Kael knew it the moment he saw it.
"What did it say?" he asked, his tone dropping, more controlled now but no less urgent. Ariana swallowed before answering, and that brief pause was enough to confirm what he already feared. "It's not asking anymore," she said quietly. "It's telling me."
