CHAPTER 64 - L—

Lyra I felt a warm hand on my arm and heard the leaves rustle. Before I knew it, Ryan had gently turned me to face him. The hurt I'd seen in his eyes earlier was back, a deep pain that made my heart ache. He let go of my arm and rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous gesture I'd come to recognize. When he spoke, his voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of tension. "I saw you with Killian," he said, pausing as his jaw clenched slightly. I could see the muscles in his face tighten, like he was trying to hold back a flood of emotions. "I'm trying not to jump to conclusions, but the way he was holding you..." He trailed off, glancing up at the starry night sky before looking back at me. His blue eyes were intense, burning with a fierce protectiveness that took my breath away. "I wanted to end him," he admitted, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "The thought of him touching you, being that close to you... it made my blood boil." He took a deep breath, trying to calm