Tension in the Wood

He pushed all unnecessary thoughts aside. Even if Ava liked him, she was too weak to be a real threat. Her feelings were unlikely to lead to anything of importance.

Women strong enough to act on their obsession were the ones he found worth being cautious of.

As for assuming things too quickly, he was never one to make that mistake. He was perceptive—he could read the room and recognize the signs. Anyone who missed that would be an idiot.

Asher stepped through the door and entered the room. His eyes swept over the space—a circular room, crafted entirely from wood, its design simple but with purpose.

The high, vaulted ceiling was made of interlocking wooden beams that met at an open skylight, allowing moonlight to pour in and illuminate the space, casting faint shadows on the floor below. The air was cool and still, yet there was a quiet tension in the room, as though the walls themselves were bracing for the conversation that would soon unfold.