Chapter 32: How are you feeling?
Ryn pulled back slowly—lips parting with a soft, wet sound—their faces inches apart, breaths mingling in the quiet.
Her amber eyes fluttered open, clear now but vulnerable. She was still Rhea, but not the wildfire she had been moments ago, not the fierce, unyielding force that had burned through the battlefield. Now, she looked fragile, like a single harsh word might shatter her completely.
Kael's chest tightened. Relief warred with worry as he traced his thumb gently over the bruise swelling on her cheek. His knuckles ached, but he barely noticed. The tension in his stomach only eased when she didn't flinch away from his touch.
"How are you feeling?" His voice was low, steady, though he was anything but. He searched her gaze, looking for cracks.
A flush crept up her neck, whether from shame or exhaustion, he wasn't sure. Her fingers twitched against his shirt, uncertain, hesitant. It was strange, seeing her like this—unguarded. When she finally spoke, her voice came hoarse, like she'd fought against the words before letting them out.
"I'm... fine now. Sorry for that mess—thanks for pulling me out." Her eyes dropped, shoulders drawing inward.
Kael tilted her chin up with a knuckle, coaxing her to meet his gaze. "Hey, it's alright—shit happens." His voice was warm, grounding. "Food's ready, though. You hungry? 'Cause I'm starving."
Her lips twitched. A small, shaky smile broke through the tension. "Yeah, I could eat."
He took that as a win.
They shuffled to the table, the scent of warm food filling the air—eggs, toast, a thick slab of meat he'd fried up quickly. They ate slowly, letting the moment stretch between them. The quiet wasn't heavy anymore; it was something else, something easier.
"You call this cooking?" Rhea teased, prodding at her plate. "This meat's tougher than your punches."