Raelynn's heart was still hamring in her chest by the ti they pulled up in front of the mansion. She barely registered the familiar sight of the grand mansion, all she could see was the blood seeping into Elion's sleeve. Her fingers curled into fists on her lap, nails biting into her palms as she tried to calm herself, but her panic only grew when Elion shut off the engine and turned to her with his usual calm expression.
"Elion, we need to go to the hospital. Now." Her voice was firm, though a slight tremble betrayed her concern.
Elion exhaled softly, the corners of his lips curving up in an almost amused smile. "It's not as bad as it looks."
"Not as bad—" Raelynn bit down on the rest of her words, frustration bubbling inside her. How could he act so indifferent when he had just been injured protecting her? "That's a lot of blood," she said, her voice quieter but no less insistent.
He reached over, brushing a reassuring hand over her arm. "Trust , I've had worse."
Raelynn stared at him, eyes flickering between his face and the wound hidden beneath the torn fabric of his sleeve. He was being impossibly stubborn, and she wasn't sure whether it was because he didn't want to trouble her or if he genuinely believed he was fine. Either way, she couldn't let it go.
"If you're not going to the hospital, at least let take care of it," she said, determination replacing her initial panic.
Elion's eyes flickered with sothing, but he kept his expression neutral. Then, with a slight nod, he said, "Alright."
Raelynn wasted no ti. She practically threw open the car door and hurried to the entrance, Elion following at a much more leisurely pace. By the ti he stepped inside, she had already flicked on the lights and was searching for the first aid kit. When she finally found it, she turned back to him and gestured toward the couch. "Sit."
He lifted an eyebrow at her tone but complied, unbuttoning his bloodied sleeve with ease before rolling it up to expose the wound. The sight of the gash on his forearm made Raelynn's stomach twist. It wasn't as deep as she had feared, but it still needed attention.
She dropped to her knees in front of him, opening the first aid kit with slightly unsteady hands. Taking a clean cloth, she reached for his arm. "This might sting," she warned before pressing it against the wound.
Elion barely flinched, but Raelynn saw the slight tensing of his jaw, the subtle way his fingers curled into the fabric of his pants. She focused on cleaning the wound, her fingers brushing against his skin every now and then. Each accidental touch sent a jolt through her, and she tried to ignore how aware she was of his warmth, his presence.
"You're good at this," Elion murmured, watching her with a curious expression.
Raelynn let out a small huff. "I had to take care of myself a lot." She carefully applied antiseptic, her brows furrowing when she heard him exhale sharply. "Sorry."
Elion chuckled. "I've been through worse."
That again. Raelynn bit her lip, focusing on wrapping the bandage around his arm. "You always say that. But just because you've been through worse doesn't an you should brush this off."
His amusent faded slightly, replaced by sothing more contemplative. "You worry too much."
Raelynn looked up sharply. "Of course, I worry! You got hurt because of ." Her voice wavered slightly, and she hated how weak she sounded. She should be relieved that he was okay, but instead, a deep guilt settled in her chest.
Elion reached out, tilting her chin up gently with his fingers. The touch was feather-light, yet it sent a shiver down her spine. "I don't regret it," he said softly. "I would do it again."
Raelynn's breath caught. She was suddenly hyper-aware of how close they were. His fingers lingered against her skin, his gaze unwavering, and she felt her heartbeat quicken. For a mont, she thought he might kiss her. The silence was loaded, every second dragging out the unspoken tension between them.
But then, as if sensing her growing nervousness, Elion pulled back with a small, knowing smile. "Don't look so guilty, Raelynn. I'm fine."
Raelynn let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She quickly finished wrapping his arm and sat back, trying to calm the heat rising to her cheeks. "You should rest," she muttered, avoiding his gaze.
Elion leaned back against the couch, stretching slightly. "You're the one who looks exhausted."
"I'm fine," she countered, standing up quickly. "You're the one with an injury."
Elion chuckled. "And yet, you're the one fussing over ."
Raelynn crossed her arms, giving him a pointed look. "Because you won't take care of yourself."
His lips twitched as if he found her frustration endearing. "Then, I'll leave it to you."
Raelynn didn't know how to respond to that. Instead, she busied herself cleaning up, her thoughts running in circles. Elion had risked himself for her. And instead of brushing it off like nothing, he had let her tend to him. It was such a small thing, yet it felt monuntal.
When she glanced back at him, he was watching her with that unreadable gaze again, his eyes darker than usual. "Raelynn," he said her na so softly it sent another shiver down her spine. "Thank you."
She swallowed. "For what?"
"For worrying about ."
Raelynn felt her face heat up again. She quickly turned away, muttering, "Just go to bed, Elion."
He chuckled but didn't push further. "Goodnight, Raelynn."
She hesitated before replying, her voice barely above a whisper. "Goodnight."
As she made her way to her room, her heart was still pounding. It wasn't just from the earlier danger or the relief that Elion was okay. No, it was sothing else entirely. Sothing she wasn't sure she was ready to face yet.
Reviews
All reviews (0)