The actual evidence that something was wrong was happening with her and she was refusing to let anyone near it.
Finally, Elena spoke. Her voice remained calm and controlled.
Carefully distant.
"You're wasting your time."
Alaric frowned. "Meaning?"
"Meaning whatever you're trying to do." She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. Those tired blue eyes meeting his directly. "You won't get an answer."
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Alaric asked the question that had been bothering him since the doctor arrived. "Does somebody keep hurting you?"
The words escaped before he could stop them. Immediately, something flickered across Elena's face.
Gone almost as quickly as it appeared.
Shock. Undoubtedly it was a shock visible on her face.
As though the possibility had never occurred to her. Then unexpectedly… she laughed.
A short laugh. Soft. Disbelieving and somehow far sadder than if she had cried.
Alaric's stomach tightened. "What's funny?"
