Chapter 26

• Zander’s mind raced as he hovered above Aria, the urge to scold her battling with the overwhelming pull of her innocent gaze. Her wide blue eyes, filled with a mix of fear and vulnerability, stopped him in his tracks. The harsh words he had prepared melted away, replaced by a tide of emotion that surged through him.
• For a fleeting moment, the world around them faded into nothingness. All he could see was her—her delicate features, the way her lips parted slightly as she breathed, and the flutter of her heartbeat that seemed to echo in the silence. He had intended to reprimand her, to remind her of the dangers that surrounded them, but all he felt now was an undeniable urge to bridge the gap between them.
• Without thinking, Zander leaned down, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was electric, igniting a fire within him that he hadn’t realized was there. It was passionate and deep, filled with unspoken words and a longing that had been building between them for far too long.