Micah stayed very still in Clyde's arms as the man carried him away from Silas and Aidan. He didn't dare move even a finger. His ear was pressed against Clyde's chest, right over his heart, and he could feel every steady, powerful beat thumping beneath his cheek. The rhythm was calm, controlled, almost too steady for someone who had just watched him nearly get assaulted.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Each beat made Micah feel strangely safe.
Clyde's coat was warm around him, and the faint scent of sandalwood clung to the fabric. It was a clean, sharp scent, mixed with something deep and comforting. Micah breathed it in without thinking. His tense shoulders slowly eased, even though his mind was still a mess.
They were inside the private elevator now. Clyde had taken it straight down, bypassing the main lobby. The doors slid shut with a quiet hum.
No one spoke.
The silence felt heavy, like the air before a storm.
