Chapter 30. Shattered

Gavriel’s hand gripped the back of her neck while the other anchored her waist, pulling her tightly against him as if afraid she might vanish.

Althea’s hands came up, pressed against his chest, not to push him away, but to steady herself. He kissed her like he needed to remind her who she belonged to. And for a moment, despite herself… she kissed him back. But then something inside her snapped back into place. She broke the kiss with a sharp intake of breath and shoved at his chest.

“What the hell was that for?” she snapped, eyes wide and burning with emotion.

Gavriel didn’t answer right away. He was still breathing hard, jaw clenched as he stared at her. “You drive me insane,” he muttered. “Talking about another man like that… acting like I don’t see it.”

“We were friends! Kael and I grew up together!” she pointed out, her voice rising with urgency.

But even as she said it, fear twisted in her chest. She could tell Gavriel wasn’t the kind of man to le