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“That was your fear.” I pressed a hand against my chest. “My life.”

He said nothing.

That hurt more than defense would have.

The memory of last night landed differently now. Not ruined. That almost made it worse.

I had wanted him. I still knew that.

He had wanted me. That had been real too.

But he had stood there telling me that choice mattered while keeping one of my biggest possible choices out of reach because he could not bear what it might cost him.

I looked back at him. “You told me last night nothing happened unless we both chose it.”

“That remains true.”

“Physically.”

His face changed.

I continued. “You understood consent when it came to touching me.”

“Talia.”

“But not when it came to the rest of my life.”

He flinched.

“You don’t get to decide which choices count.”

“I know.”

“No.” My voice broke slightly. “You know now because I caught you.”

He looked away.

For the first time, I understood his habit of checking exits differently.

Sometimes a person did not look for the door because danger might enter.

Sometimes he looked because leaving was easier than staying where the truth could reach him.

Veyr took a slow breath. “If we approach Anik, I expose more than myself.”

“Then tell me exactly what.”

His gaze returned to mine. “All of it?”

“As much as you know.”

“That information is not mine to disclose.”

I sighed. “And we’re back to duty.”

“It is not an excuse.”

“Maybe not.”