DARIAN

The knock is sharp enough to snap me out of the dark thoughts that have been gnawing at me all day. Adrian doesn’t wait for an invitation. He pushes the door open, boots heavy against the floorboards, that usual confident swagger replaced by something tight and cautious.

I barely look up from where I sat by the fireplace, Iris curling her fingers nervously around her scarf near the window.

“We need to talk,” Adrian says, voice low and rough like he is trying to swallow something bitter.

“Talk.”

He paces the small cabin like a restless wolf, eyes darting between me and Iris. Then he stops, meeting my gaze...