The soft murmur of the bathwater filling the tub echoed faintly from the bathroom, casting a delicate warmth into the silent room. The silence felt heavier now, wrapping around Raelynn's chest as if something unseen lingered between them.
Elion crouched before her, his large hands gently holding hers. His face was a mixture of calmness and restraint, but the distance in his eyes unsettled her. He was here, right in front of her, yet somehow he felt miles away.
Raelynn swallowed hard, breaking the silence. "Why... why don't you want me to meet Axel anymore?"
Elion's fingers twitched slightly at the question. His eyes flicked toward her, guarded, before lowering to their joined hands. A beat passed before he answered, his voice low and steady.
"I have a bad feeling about him."
