Thalia could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing as she processed Zev’s words. She wasn’t sure what shocked her more—his concern or the fact that he didn’t care who was watching.
Vanessa, trying to regain control of the situation, took a step closer. “Zev, she’s fine. Let’s just—”
“Back off, Vanessa,” Zev said coldly, not even glancing at her. The sharpness in his voice cut through the air, and Vanessa’s face faltered, her confidence slipping.
Thalia felt his hand reach for hers, gently turning it over to check the bleeding. The scrape wasn’t too deep, but Zev’s focus on it made her feel like it was a bigger deal than it really was. His touch was surprisingly careful, as if he was afraid of hurting her more.
“You don’t have to—” Thalia began to protest, but Zev cut he
