Elaris POV
He sighed with something near relief after a few moments at the window, and that was the time he turned back to the room, to me. The footsteps continued on outside the door; whoever it was, which by the harsher crunch of boots against the stone floor must be a soldier, just continued on down the corridor.
I was already struggling back to my feet by then.
His gaze fell on me and his face tightened. He growled as if in fury at himself, jaw clenched in self-reproach.
"I am sorry, Ela. I hope I haven't hurt you." He reached for me, and I jumped away from his reach, stepping back from him.
I forced him a stiff smile, and he shifted from his reach when he reached for me again.
"I am sorry, Ela. That was a mistake. I didn't mean I hurt you. He said when I still wouldn't let him touch me.
I held him back with the stiff smile. He stood back now, a strange kind of pain sliced up his jaw and tightened his gaze as he watched me slowly put back on my clothes.
