ELIAS POV
He was threatening what's mine. He was touching what was mine.
He was using what was mine.
His claw was right there.
Pressed against her neck.
Close enough that one wrong step, one wrong breath, one wrong flicker of movement would end with her bleeding out in my arms before I could even reach her.
And that—
That was not happening.
My body locked in place, every muscle tight, every nerve pulled taut, my focus narrowing down to one single point—the line of his arm, the angle of his wrist, the pressure of that claw against her skin, the way her chest rose and fell just a fraction too fast, the way she held herself still, controlled, not panicking, not fighting him, but not submitting either.
Strong.
Even like this.
Even with a rogue at her throat.
Fuck.
My chest pulled
