Zachary's POV

As they chatted about Circe, his smile remained, and he stood up. The dinner had ended, yet the day was still ongoing. He had a few things he wanted to express clearly, and he could only hope she would grasp them without passing any judgment. He extended his hand to assist her in getting up, and she accepted it. In that moment, he sensed it through their touch. The sensation felt akin to an electric jolt coursing through him.

It ignited his deepest longing, and a part of him—a hidden part—recognized that sensation all too well. It seemed like there was a connection between them that transcended time,...