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“Like a contract,” he said, not wanting her to think marriage even though it was technically that exactly.

Her expression settled a little before getting curious. “Protect her from what?”

He stared ahead now. “From me.”

Her silence finally drew his gaze to her confused one. “My presence became dangerous,” he further explained.

“To her?”

“Yes.”

“But you were guarding her.”

He realized he was back to that bond. “We were connected,” he said carefully.

Her head tilted, more confused. “How, exactly?”

Yes. How exactly.

“Actually, don’t tell me,” she said quickly, swiping the air with her hand. “I might getjealous.”

She said it like a promise, and he immediately longed for it.

She gave a soft chuckle. “You’re really not going to answer that, huh?”

He glanced out the window, tapping his finger against his leg.

She let out a playful groan. “Okay, next question. Was she prettier than me?”

This fucking humanity.

He turned slightly toward her, weighing the words. “She was… exceptionally unique.”

Jaxi blinked, then drew back with a mock squint. “Let me guess. Star-crossed lovers? She fell for her silent protector, and it all went up in flames?”

Kaos searched for an exit out of the topic. “You would never guess right.”

“Try me,” she nudged, half-grinning. “Enemies-to-lovers complicated? Or like, she tried to stab you, and you still made her coffee?”

Kaos shifted slightly, the weight of her question stretching between them as he faced her.

She arched a brow. “So, definitely not breakfast. Noted.”

Kaos leaned back slightly, tracing her silhouette in silence. “You’re not pretty.”

Her smile faltered, breath catching.

“You’re beautiful,” he added, letting the truth land without defense. “A universal difference.”

She blinked, her jaw dropped a little. “So… I’m… prettylikeher?”

“Galaxies apart. She’s nothing like you, you’re nothing like her.”

She wrinkled her nose, suspicious. “So that means what? She was a star system and I’m... the houseplant?”

Kaos watched her in silence for a moment, taking in the wild softness of her. “No,” he said quietly. “You’re something that earth painted… to seduce heaven.”

Her jaw dropped open just slightly, blinking at him in silence.