Chapter 163

Simon POV “Renik,” I said quietly, my voice steady though my chest was anything but, “tell Charlie to wait. I will handle this.” Renik’s sharp eyes flicked between us, understanding flashing there before he gave a brief nod and slipped into the shadows. His footsteps faded, leaving behind only the whisper of leaves and the pounding of my heart. For the first time in hours, maybe days, it was just her and me. Aisha stood across from me, her arms wrapped around herself like armor. But even armor couldn’t hide the way her shoulders trembled. The night air carried her scent, wildflowers laced with smoke and it hit me hard. She thought she could bury herself beneath silence and shadows, but she didn’t realize how transparent she was to me. I could read every flicker of her gaze, every shift of her breath. She thought she was breaking alone. She thought I would step back once I saw the weight of her scars. She didn’t understand. She was mine already. I moved toward her slowly, each step deli