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Selene’s POV

Dark didn’t let go.

I couldn’t breathe, not because he was holding me too tightly, but because his chest was so warm, his hand pressed lightly against my back, and he hadn’t said a word since drawing the curtain.

Hayley’s voice echoed again outside. “Dark?”

His arm tightened slightly around me. “Stay still,” he murmured close to my ear. His breath sent a jolt down my spine. I stayed frozen, clutching his shirt in my hands.

After a long pause, we heard her footsteps fading.

Dark finally stepped back, his gaze unreadable. He reached for his shirt, brushed my hand lightly as he took it, then pulled...