Chapter 22: The World Is A Fragile Thing
Zara bit down on the inside of her cheek as her boot caught on the uneven asphalt, her injured ankle giving way.
"Ah!" A sharp cry escaped her lips as she pitched forward, the searing pain shooting up her leg like wildfire. Instinctively, her hands flew to the bulge in her coat, shielding Leo as she twisted her body to take the brunt of the fall.
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the cold, hard impact of the cracked asphalt.
But it never came.
Strong hands caught her mid-fall, yanking her upright with startling ease. The momentum pulled her close to man’s chest, The jolt sent another wave of pain through her ankle, and she hissed, trying to pull herself away, but the stranger held firm.
"Careful," the man said gruffly, his voice low and steady. His eyes narrowed as they flicked to her hands, still clutching her coat.
"Interesting reflex, considering you said it’s nothing," he murmured, a faint edge of disbelief coloring his tone. His gaze lingered on her too long, then to the coat. "What’s in there?"
"Nothing," Zara said too quickly. Her pulse spiked as she straightened, forcing her face into a mask of indifference despite the throbbing in her ankle.
He arched a brow, clearly unconvinced. His hands hovered near her elbows, debating whether to steady her again.
"Nothing doesn’t make people twist themselves like that to protect it," he muttered, but to her relief, he didn’t press further. His gaze dropped briefly to her foot. "That ankle’s done. You shouldn’t be walking on it."
"It’s fine," Zara bit out, adjusting her coat clumsily to shift the hidden weight inside. "We don’t have time for a break."