ZAVIAN NOLVEN POV

"Yes."

The word left her without hesitation, but it was the way she said it that pulled something tight in my chest.

"I would have done everything to protect you." Her hand crossed the space between us, her finger closing over mine with a firmness that felt deliberate. "Even now… if anyone tries to hurt you, I won't just sit back and let it happen."

My eyes dropped to where our hands met, something slow and dangerous spreading through my chest at the contact.

Then I lifted my gaze back to her face. "Is that a promise?" I asked quietly. "I told you before, I tend to...