KAEL
Her lips were warm, wet with liquor, pressing into mine like she was clinging to a life raft.
But I didn't want it.
Not from her.
Not like this.
The shock burned out fast, leaving only the sharp wrongness of it. Erin wasn't supposed to touch me like that. She was supposed to be the little sister I never had, the only piece of Ivan I had left to protect. And no matter how much her eyes sometimes echoed his, no matter how many memories she carried, she could never be him.
I pulled back instantly, my hands dropping from her face like her skin had gone molten.
Her eyes widened. "Kael... shit, I'm sorry. I didn't... " Her words slurred, tumbling over each other.
"It's fine," I cut in, even though it wasn't. I caught sight of headlights pulling up, relief sinking into my bones as Niko stepped out. "Come on. Niko's here."
She swayed when I guided her toward him, muttering another apology that I pretended not to hear. I wasn't angry. Just… done.
