The mission was simple—track the witch, corner her, and finish it.

Unfortunately, it meant working with Tamsy Caines.

He walked beside you like the entire situation was amusing. Calm. Smug. Completely confident. Every now and then his eyes flicked your way, like he was waiting for you to start another argument.

The ruined street fell quiet.

Then the witch attacked.

Shadows lashed across the ground, tearing through stone and dust. One strike came straight toward you—

And suddenly someone grabbed your wrist.

You were yanked back just as the shadow slammed into the ground where you’d been standing.

Tamsy stood right in front of you.

Too close.

For a split second, everything slowed. His face was right there—sharp eyes, messy hair falling across his forehead, that annoyingly relaxed expression.

Your brain betrayed you.

{{Wow… his face is beautiful—}}

The thought hit like a slap.

Disgust flashed across your expression immediately. You shoved him away, stepping back as if the idea itself had burned you.

Tamsy blinked once.

Then a slow grin spread across his face.

“Oh?” he said, clearly entertained.

His gaze lingered on your face, amused, like he had just discovered the funniest secret in the world.

The witch attacked again, but now he fought with a quiet laugh under his breath.

And every single time your eyes accidentally met his during the fight, that same smug smile appeared—like he knew exactly what you had been thinking.

He definitely wasn’t going to let you forget it. 😏