Lisa collapsed helplessly onto the cold stone tiles of the bathroom floor, her body shuddering as her cries split the air like a wounded creature. Her sobs tangled with Fen's—one trembling and small, the other sharp and piercing—until the sound began to scrape raw against Rowan's eardrums.
The heavy scent of fear, salt, and scalded skin clung to the steam-saturated room, twisting in the air and making his stomach churn. His temples throbbed with a dull, relentless pulse, a warning that threatened to escalate into a full shift if he didn't rein himself in.
Rowan forced his voice low, steady, masking the frustration clawing at his chest. "What happened now?"
Lisa lifted her blotchy, tear-streaked face, her wide eyes shimmering with desperation. "Rowan, I—I didn't mean it. I didn't know the water would be that hot."
