Chapter 153
The knock came again, harder this time.
Kael did not answer immediately. Ariana felt the tension return to him at once, sharp and controlled, replacing the brief calm that had settled between them moments earlier. His gaze stayed fixed on the door while his hand tightened slightly around hers.
"Ariana," he said quietly, "stay here."
She frowned immediately. "No."
His jaw tightened. "This isn't the same as before."
"I know that."
"Then don't make this harder."
Ariana crossed her arms, staring at him. "You keep saying that like I'm the problem."
"That's not what I mean."
"Then stop trying to leave me out of every difficult conversation."
Kael let out a slow breath, already looking exhausted by the argument before it properly started. "Mira didn't come here to talk to both of us."
"That sounds like her problem."
Despite the situation, something almost resembling amusement flickered briefly across his face before disappearing again.
