Blackmere noticed everything.
By noon, I felt it. Looks lingering too long. Conversations pausing when I passed. A woman at the café smiled at me like she knew something she shouldn't.
Cassian walked beside me like he'd earned the right. Not touching. Not claiming.
But close.
"You're enjoying this," I said.
"The attention?" he asked. "Or you?"
"Both," he admitted easily.
We stepped inside the café, and I immediately spotted Jude at the counter.
His eyes found us instantly.
Cassian's hand slid to the small of my back without asking.
Jude saw it.
Something dark flickered across his face before he masked it.
"Rowan," he said, voice tight.
"Jude."
Cassian glanced between us. "You didn't tell me he'd be here."
"I didn't know," I replied.
Jude's gaze dropped briefly to Cassian's hand. Then back to my face.
"You're busy," he said.
Cassian smiled. "She's with me."
I laughed. "No, I'm standing next to you."
The tension was thick enough to taste.
Jude stepped closer. "Can I talk to you?"
I considered it. The town held its breath.
"Later," I said. "I'm getting coffee."
Cassian's hand stayed where it was.
Jude nodded once, jaw clenched, and stepped back.
When we sat down, Cassian leaned in. "That felt like a declaration."
"It wasn't," I said.
"Good," he replied. "Declarations make men territorial."
I arched a brow. "You weren't?"
He smiled slowly. "Only a little."
Outside, I caught my reflection in the window.
I looked… alive.
Desired. Watched. Unapologetic.
And for the first time, I didn't feel like I needed to explain myself.
The town could speculate.
The men could react.
I was done pretending I wasn't enjoying the chaos.