She studies Xaden with a desperate intensity that puts us firmly in awkward territory, and Xaden must feel the same, given that he’s practically petrified into a piece of stone beside me. “Oh, shit.” Garrick’s face drains of color. “Xaden?” Talia whispers, lifting her hand, then quickly dropping it. “Is it really you?” My eyebrows hit my fucking hairline. Xaden reaches across me and wraps his hand over my hip like I need protection. “Mom.”
