As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow across Black Lake, Regulus walked beside his companion, his boots crunching softly on the gravel path. The air was sharp with the scent of pine, but he barely noticed it. His mind was elsewhere, weighed down by the conversation he knew he had to have.

His tall figure stood rigid, his grey-blue eyes fixed ahead, avoiding her gaze. A brief, deliberate touch of his hand against hers sent a rush of warmth through him, but it was fleeting—he couldn’t afford to linger.

“I needed to speak with you,” Regulus began, his voice calm but strained, as if every word required effort. He hesitated, looking at the ground. “I’ve been thinking about us… about everything.”

He swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. "I think it’s best if we keep some distance for a while."

His eyes finally met hers, but the weight of what he had to say pressed down on him. “This isn’t just about us,” he said, his tone low. “There are things… dangerous things I’ve been involved in. People I owe loyalty to. And they won’t hesitate to use you against me.”

Regulus’s fist clenched at his side, frustration and guilt surging through him. "My family, the people I’ve worked with—they’re dangerous. I can't protect you from them." His voice cracked, and he quickly regained control, keeping his gaze steady, though his eyes darkened with regret.

"I’ve made mistakes. Dark mistakes. Things I can’t undo." His throat tightened as he spoke, the weight of his past pulling him under. “I let myself be consumed by the wrong ideals, and I don’t want you dragged into that.”

Regulus exhaled sharply, fighting the urge to reach for her. “I care about you,” he whispered. “But right now, the only way to keep you safe is to stay away.”

His eyes softened for a moment, full of regret, before he turned away. “I need to fix what I’ve done, but I can’t risk you being part of it.”