A Kiss and a Knife

Thalia’s POV

My fingers dug into the cool frame of my car as I braced my weight against the door, watching Kaelen wear a path into the pavement. The thick quiet stretching between us was broken only by the steady, clipped rhythm of his boots hitting the ground, each heavy step keeping time with my own racing pulse.

“Kaelen,” I started, fighting to keep my tone even and controlled. “You’re making