Chapter
226
The cabin was quiet that night, but Elyra's thoughts were anything but. The encounter with the investigator had shaken her to her core, and Dain's raw display of strength replayed in her mind over and over. Dain sat at the edge of the couch, wincing slightly as Elyra dabbed at the scratches on his arms with a damp cloth. His fiery orange eyes were focused on the wall, but his body was tense under her touch. "You didn't have to fight him," Elyra said softly, breaking the silence.
Dain scoffed. "He wasn't giving us a choice."
"I mean it," she insisted, her voice trembling. "What if you'd gotten hurt worse? What if..."
Her words trailed off, and she bit her lip, unable to finish the thought.
Dain turned his head, his eyes meeting hers for the first time since the fight. "I'll always protect you, Elyra," he said, his voice low but steady.noveldrama
The sincerity in his tone made her chest tighten. She nodded, focusing on her task to avoid the intensity of his gaze. But her hands faltered as a new realization settled over her: she wasn't just grateful.
Her heart raced as she felt his closeness, the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers. The silence between them stretched, charged with an energy she didn't understand.
When she finally looked up, she found him staring at her. Not with his usual protective expression, but with something darker, more conflicted.
"Dain," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
His jaw tightened, and he abruptly pulled away, standing up so quickly that her cloth fell to the floor.
"I need air," he muttered, heading for the door without looking back.
Elyra sat frozen, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion and longing. What was this pull she felt toward him? Why did his absence leave her chest aching?
The door creaked open, and the night air rushed in as Dain stepped outside. Elyra let out a shaky breath, placing a hand over her racing heart.
She didn't know what was happening between them, but one thing was clear: it scared her.
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