Chapter 198

Mason's POV

Nathan keeps speaking, his voice low as he updates us on a message from Reed, but his eyes flicker ever so slightly toward the couch. It’s subtle, barely a nod, a movement so faint it could be mistaken for nothing at all. But I see it. I always see it. My gaze slips toward her, just for a second, quick enough that she won’t catch it if she’s looking, but long enough to take her in.

She’s curled up at the far end of the couch, her knees hugged tightly to her chest, chin resting on top like she’s folded herself into the smallest version she can manage. Her hair falls like a curtain over part of her face, and her eyes aren’t wild or teasing anymore. They’re quiet. She’s staring down at the floor, unmoving, like the shadows beneath the coffee table hold the answer to everything she can’t fix.

And for a brief, brutal moment, I hate this.