Velvet’s POV

He was standing by the door, his shoulders heavy, his expression unreadable. He didn’t move for a long moment, just stared at me with that expression that made my stomach twist, as if he carried the weight of the entire world on his back.

His usually sharp, confident eyes looked clouded with something I couldn’t name. Worry. Regret. Guilt. Maybe all three.

“Zavian?” My voice came out softer than I wanted, shaky and scared. “What’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed and I sat beside him, the mattress dipping slightly under our weight. For a long moment, he just stared at...