Maelis POV

“Who the hell is that?” Lucian asked, his voice low with irritation.

I merely spared him a glance before turning my back on him. My whole attention was on Melanie.

She seemed shaken despite not being the type to look this rattled. But thinking about the fact that the asshole who just left was Justin Harrington, the brother of her high school crush, Oliver, it made sense. Birds of a feather flock together.

And I didn't care about the details right now; all I knew was that not even an asshole like Justin deserved to speak about Mel like that.

I took her hand, giving it a gentle...