Shattered Defenses

Kaelen's face darkened, his piercing gaze locked onto Clara's eyes as if searching for any hint of the truth she was hiding.

It was a shame that her face remained utterly impassive, showing nothing but indifference.

Clara met his gaze in silence. It would be a lie to say she felt nothing.

But she knew she couldn't let him get his hopes up, not yet, anyway.

Clara thought to herself, 'Honestly, even