Elena’s POV

The night train rattled through the city, packed shoulder to shoulder with tired commuters heading home. I stood near the middle of the car, one hand gripping the overhead rail, my body swaying with every jolt of the tracks.

My dress clung to my skin after a long day. The thin fabric barely reached mid-thigh, and I already regretted not wearing something longer. The air felt thick with sweat and perfume and the faint metallic scent of the rails.

Then I felt him.

A tall, solid presence pressed against my back in the crowded space. At first I assumed it was just someone trying to keep balance. But...