IRIS

He staggers. I freeze, my breath hitching in my throat. .

I can’t just run into him, he’s limping, leaning heavily on Kelvin and Adrian.

So I step forward slowly, hands trembling, and when I reach him I wrap my arms around his waist. Softly. Carefully. I feel his body shake against me.

“Darian…” I whisper.

He presses his cheek to my head. “Iris,” he says, weak.

I pull back an inch, tiptoe to look at his face. Bruises. Cuts. Blood crusted in his hair. He’s a shell of himself.

My heart roars.

“God, what did they do to you?” My voice cracks.

He doesn’t answer right away. He...