Chapter 36

Elena stood frozen—her steel-blue eyes locked with Ryn's across the dim, rubble-strewn room, Mira's bare form sprawled atop him, shadows curling faintly around them like a possessive shroud. Ryn's amber eyes widened—caught shirtless, sweat-slicked, his breath still ragged—while Mira's grip tightened, nails digging into his shoulders, her black eyes glinting with a sharp, triumphant smirk as she stared Elena down, daring her to flinch.

"I'm sorry for interrupting," Elena said—her voice steady but clipped, cutting through the thick silence—"I'll come again." She turned to go—boots scuffing the cracked floor, her chestnut hair swinging as she headed back toward the staircase, shadows swallowing her outline.

Ryn's hand shot up—his voice rasped out, rough but firm. "Elena, wait." He shifted beneath Mira, nudging her aside—her shadows twitched, reluctant—"We're done. Why'd you come up here?"