( … continued)
Niva slowly sat up, her breath still uneven. Her hair was a wild halo framing her flushed face.
She reached out, both her hands slightly shaky as they cupped either side of Velor's face, forcing him to meet her eyes.
There was no fury in them anymore. The fire was gone… replaced by something softer, heavier.
Sadness. Concern.
"Velor…" she whispered, pulling his forehead down until it nearly touched hers. "I know you don't want to tell me what you are really up to… but I need to tell you something. I don't have a very good feeling about this."
Her words landed like stones.
Velor's smirk faded.
He said nothing…not a word…as he searched her gaze, his piercing eyes moving back and forth as though he could read the language written there.
Niva didn't look away. She held him captive in her worry. "Whatever you are trying to do…" she pressed on, her voice shaking, "…it feels wrong, Velor. It feels… wrong."
