CHAPTER
The knock on the aviary door came soft, almost hesitant, yet it carried weight. It didn't sound like Viktor, but they knew it was him.
Raphael and Julian both stiffened. They didn't need to exchange a glance the presence on the other side of the wood vibrated in the air like a second heartbeat.
Viktor.
Raphael inhaled once, slow and controlled, but his jaw was clenched. Julian's pulse fluttered fast under the blankets, and Raphael felt the faint tremor through their bond. Before either of them could speak, the door opened.
Viktor stepped in, shoulders tense, hair tousled, looking like he had run here but forced himself to stop at the threshold. His eyes flicked from Raphael to Julian lingering longer than usual on Julian, as if checking for injuries he couldn't see.
Raphael bristled. "What," he said, "do you want?"
Viktor exhaled sharply, like Raphael's tone had physically struck him. "I want to explain."
Julian blinked, confused. "Explain… what?"
