Cocoon

Matteo straightened, raising his chin as he stared down at Eira. "I assure you, you don't need to worry about that. And you're wrong—anything that concerns Master Aelion is very much our problem. Especially something as serious as this."

"And what exactly is 'this'?" Eira asked sharply, her tone laced with annoyance.

Matteo's expression remained unreadable. "I'm not sure if you realize it, but no woman—aside from Jania—has ever gotten close to Master Aelion. That wouldn't be as startling if you weren't as important to him as you appear to be. For a man like him, someone like you is a liability, Ephyra Allen. A weakness."