Zyren pulled her closer, even as Aira instinctively tried to wiggle her way out of his grip—but he didn't allow it.
His arms, firm and unwavering, held her fast against him, his presence overwhelming and commanding. His red eyes, glowing faintly like smoldering embers in the shadows, fixed on her face. Their intensity made her nervous, like she was being examined from the inside out. She could barely keep her breathing steady, and the closeness between them only made her heart thump harder—wild, frantic, like it was trying to escape the cage of her ribs.
Then he spoke again, his voice smooth and sharp, slicing through the silence like a whisper from a dream you didn't want to remember.
"Are you sure?" he asked, watching her intently. "There's nothing you want from me?"
Aira's eyes flicked away, unable to hold his gaze. Her body tensed beneath his hold, and she shook her head with all the confidence she could muster.
"No! I need—"
