Her voice broke. She looked down, her fingers twisting in the blan-ket. Something cracked in me.
"She's going to be alright. Thanks to you."
Elara looked up, eyes glossy. "I didn't know what I was doing. I just... I couldn't let her die."
You didn't. I wanted to say it, but I couldn't. Not yet. Instead, I stayed there, watching her breathe, the storm inside me finally start-ing to calm. I noticed how deeply this had shaken her.
The sight of her trembling, trying to be strong, made something twist hard in my chest. I cursed under my breath.
"Elara."
She shook her head, voice cracking. "I don't understand why anyone would want to hurt me."
The helplessness in her eyes gutted me. Slowly, I reached out and brushed my fingers across her cheek. She leaned into the touch for a heartbeat, then pulled back slightly, as if catching herself.
But that was all it took. The fear of losing her surged again, hot, blinding.
