Chapter 50: A Path Crossed Twice
Ruelle’s bruised bare feet hung midair, her pulse pounding in her ears. Lucian’s words were a contrast to the heat of his grip—firm and steady.
"My shoes tore when I was being chased," she said, her voice hoarse, a faint tremour betraying the fear still clinging to her. Remembering the corrupted vampire, she blurted in a rush, "That corrupted vampire is—"
"Is dead," Lucian interrupted flatly.
Her breath caught. Dead? Surely, the creature hadn’t died on its own. And considering they were now alone, it wasn’t difficult to guess who had ended it.
"Can you...let me down now?" she asked finally, her cheeks flushing as embarrassment crept up her neck. For the first time, she noticed the steady rise and fall of Lucian’s chest against her back, the faint brush of his breath near her ear, and the way he carried her effortlessly, as though she weighed no more than air.
"You are injured," Lucian replied abruptly, as though this were unquestionable fact. Without waiting for her argument, he stepped back a pace, lowering her towards the ground with deliberate care, while instructing her, "Point your feet down."
Ruelle wondered if it was to avoid the dirt and mud from sticking to the cuts she had received on her soles. She complied, expecting the harsh bite of the forest floor. Instead, her feet brushed something solid and warm.
Shoes.
Her bare toes curled awkwardly inside the large leather boots. She blinked, glancing down in surprise. Lucian’s shoes.
He was barefoot. He remained utterly unbothered, shifting only to steady her before his red gaze swept the darkened forest, sharp and predatory. Ruelle quickly realised what he’d done.
"I’ll manage without them," she said quietly, already shifting to pull her feet away, embarrassed at the gesture.