Chapter 17 - 16 - Her Savior
"Hang on. The pain will pass soon..."
Darkness still veiled her mind when a faint glimmer of light pierced her eyelids—and with it, a whisper of a voice. Her body felt light... too light, as if it were no longer tethered to the world. But the burning pain in her stomach—sharp and searing—dragged her back to reality.
Ashtoria let out a weak groan.
Her eyes fluttered open. Her vision was blurry, clouded by the haze of unconsciousness. Yet within that fog, she saw a shadow... a young man with messy black hair and olive skin, kneeling beside her.
His hands were stained with blood—her blood.
Strong, nimble fingers pressed a ragged cloth against the wound in her stomach, trying to staunch the bleeding. His face looked serious yet calm, his gaze sharp but devoid of malice.
But to Ashtoria, that meant nothing.
Touch. That was what she felt. A stranger’s touch on her body.
Every instinct screamed. Push him away. Get him off. Kill him if necessary. She had never... never allowed anyone to touch her like this.
Not after everything.
Her body tensed—just slightly, because the strength she had left wasn’t even enough to lift her own hand. Her breath was ragged. Her eyes trembled, trying to say, ,"Don’t touch me." But what came out was a faint, broken gasp.