Chapter 146: Trapped
Lara attempted to rise, but her legs buckled beneath her, weak and unsteady, as if they were made of jelly. A frustrated breath left her lips as she swayed, barely able to hold herself upright.
Alaric was meticulously wrapping the lifeless body of the python in tattered brown cloth when a flicker of motion caught his attention in his peripheral vision. The subtle shift stirred a mixture of curiosity and unease within him, prompting him to glance over, his heart quickening in anticipation.
"Don’t push yourself too hard," Alaric’s voice came through, soothing yet resolute, like a steady breeze that cut through the tension of a sweltering day.
She barely had time to register his words when he was beside her, his movements swift and effortless. The rippling water barely resisted him as he waded through the shallow part, his presence as steady as the earth beneath her.
Alaric adjusted his cloak, smoothing it out carefully. He folded the upper part into three to serve as a pillow for her head. Realizing she had no choice, Lara exhaled and sank back onto the rock, her body aching with every motion.
"Rest for a while. There’s no need to rush," he said, his voice gentler this time.
Lara nodded. She had no choice but to rest to recover her strength. She lifted her legs, as she wanted to lie down on the rock. Only then did she realize something. The cool air brushed against her bare skin.
She glanced down, her breath catching in her throat. Her shorts, damp and snug, clung to her like a second skin, barely reaching mid-thigh. Most of her long, slender legs were exposed to the open air. No wonder Alaric’s face was flushed throughout.
Lara had a sly grin on her face. She wanted to tease Alaric but changed her mind in the end. She felt so weak. She would tease him another day.