Rae's heart plummeted like a rock dropped from heaven.
She's not there— Lyra wasn't among them.
His breath hitched.
For a second, the world froze.
No no no—
But then—movement. Behind Melissa. Something shifting.
He darted around them—eyes wild—and there she was. Lyra.
Tied.
Bound behind Melissa with a rope knotted around their waists, probably to keep her from falling during the ride.
Her head lolled slightly, her body slumped but breathing.
Relief hit him so hard he almost dropped to his knees.
His chest finally unclenched, lungs sucking in air like he'd been drowning.
'Thank fuck…'
But then—
'Wait a damn minute.'
Why the hell was he so worried?
It's not like he cared or anything.
Right?
Right?!
'I just met her. She's—she's a half-succubus vampire brawler tank-of-a-woman who could literally crush my bones in bed if she sneezed wrong.'
And yet...
His cheeks warmed. His heart did a dumb flutter.
No. Fucking. Way.
'Do I have… a crush? On her?'
