Chapter 26 - 25 - A Heartbeat Not of Fear
Riven’s expression darkened. He didn’t ask anything further. His eyes drifted briefly toward the contours of the woman’s body—beautiful, strong, but clearly holding stories far removed from grace. As if triggered by memory, images of the scars he had once glimpsed across Ashtoria’s body came flooding back—hidden well beneath the garments she wore. But now, what concerned him the most was the deep gash on her abdomen.
In a voice that was little more than a gentle whisper, Riven asked, "You haven’t changed your bandage, have you?"
Ashtoria glanced down at her wounded stomach for a moment, then shook her head slowly.
Riven sighed. "Since your wound hasn’t dried yet, it should be changed daily. Otherwise, it could get infected."
He immediately stood up and walked over to the small cart where he kept his supplies. After retrieving a satchel, he turned back toward her and gave a faint smile. "Come here. I’ll help you change it."
Ashtoria didn’t respond. She only stared at Riven for a moment, then slowly rose and walked over to him. Beside the calm river, Riven sat on a flat stone and pulled out a small bowl, a bottle of clean water, and a folded handkerchief from his bag.
He waited.
Soon after, Ashtoria began removing her upper garments. Her movements weren’t hurried, nor were they shy. She simply did what needed to be done. As the fabric slipped away, the scars that had once been hidden beneath it gradually became visible—long slashes, puncture wounds, and patches of skin that looked as if they had once been burned. And yet, her figure remained composed, balanced, and undeniably beautiful—especially her breasts, still covered by a simple black bra.
Riven let out a long breath, brushing away any untoward thoughts. His gaze refocused on the wound across her abdomen, and he slowly reached out to touch the bandage. When his fingers brushed against her skin, she flinched.