She finally understood.
He was simply like every other male in this world—possessive, protective, and absolutely incapable of watching a female step into danger without losing his mind. Whether she belonged to them or not didn't even matter.
To them, females were fragile eggs wrapped in silk, born to be protected and kept away from claws, fangs, and thorns.
He wasn't used to a female like her—wasn't used to seeing one plant her feet and refuse to budge.
Thalina looked into his eyes—silver like a glacier, unmoving on the surface but roiling deep within.
"If I can heal your arm right now," she said slowly, every word as steady as stone, "will you promise that from now on, instead of stopping me, you'll stand by my side and support me?"
She didn't blink. Didn't flinch. Her voice was soft, but it held the weight of thunder. She meant it.
Eyrx's eyes widened—actually widened.
Like she'd just told him the sky was upside down or that she planned to leap off a cliff for fun.
