Chapter 74

She bit her lip, willing herself not to cry.

She didn’t mean it. Not really.

But at the same time, she did.

She wanted to run before this place felt too much like home. Before Valerian felt too much like

hers.

“Noelle...” He uttered in a more careful tone. “Did I do something wrong?”

She shook her head quickly, but she still couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

Valerian exhaled, running a hand through his hair. His voice was steady, but there was a quiet urgency behind it. “You can stay here for as long as you want,” he assured her. “Treat this place as your home. If I’m making you uncomfortable, just tell me, and I’ll make sure I—”

“No!” Noelle blurted out, cutting him off before he could even finish.

Valerian froze.

“You’re not doing anything wrong, and you’re not making me uncomfortable,” she continued, her voice softer now but still insistent. “...At least, not in that way.”

Her hands clenched in her lap as she