Xylon pushed himself to his feet abruptly, the force behind the movement making the air around him feel tense.
His jaw was clenched, his fists balled tightly at his sides. He was teetering on the edge of something dangerous, and he knew it.
If he stayed one moment longer, the words he'd already spat would seem tame compared to what might come next.
"Damn it, Eva," he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair as if trying to rein himself in.
But it wasn't working. He could feel the venomous words bubbling up, ready to lash out again, sharper and more cutting.
Xylon walked away, his shoulders tense and his footsteps echoing sharply against the stillness of the night.
Eva didn't try to stop him this time; she simply stayed where she was, letting the distance between them grow.
Her gaze fell to her hands, which now rested limply on her lap.
A simple kiss on the back of his hand—and she'd unraveled completely.
