Chapter 72: Being Monitored
"What?" Lunara blurted out, her voice an octave too high. "No, you—you can’t just say things like that!"
Flustered, she spun around too fast, her heart racing. In her panic, she misstepped, her own feet betraying her as she stumbled forward.
A startled gasp left her lips, but before she could hit the ground, Eryx caught her, his hands steady on her waist.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Her hands were braced against his chest, his warmth seeping through the fabric. She dared to glance up, only to find him staring at her with that same unreadable expression.
Eryx let out a quiet chuckle, his grip still firm. "You always run first and think later, don’t you?"
"Always? Since when do I always run?" she shot back, trying to steady herself.
Eryx didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gently pulled her up, helping her stand properly. His hands lingered just long enough to make sure she wasn’t about to trip again.
"Better?" He glanced down at her feet. "You didn’t twist your ankle or anything, right?"
Lunara shook her head quickly. "I’m fine."
Eryx hummed as if he didn’t quite believe her, but he finally let go.
"Good," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. Then, bowing slightly, he leaned closer. "So... Can I?"