"Kaal…"
The voice was barely a whisper, trembling.
Before he could react, Jane threw herself into his arms, wrapping him in a hug so tight it nearly knocked the air out of his lungs. Her grip was desperate, trembling as though she feared that if she let go for even a second, he would vanish like a cruel dream.
Kaal froze, stunned.
Jane, who always carried herself with calm dignity… was shaking. Her breath hitched against his chest, and her arms refused to loosen.
He blinked. "Jane?"
She didn't answer. Her face remained buried against him.
Kaal slowly lifted his hand, gently resting it atop her crimson hair. It was softer than he remembered. Lighter, almost weightless. His fingers moved gently through the strands, comforting, grounding.
He looked up, toward Mia, and nearly did a double-take.
Her appearance had changed.
