ELIZA’S POV
After our heart-to-heart talk, Alexander looked deep into my eyes.
It wasn’t until he reached out and ran a gentle finger over my arm that I followed his gaze and noticed the dried blood staining my skin.
His jaw tightened. "You shouldn't have to sit in this filth," he said softly.
Before I could protest, he turned to the nearest servant and ordered hot water to be prepared.
The quiet authority in his voice sent a shiver through me, though whether from warmth or something deeper, I couldn't tell. When we got to his tent, the water was ready.
"I can do it—" I started, but he gave me a look that silenced me. Not out of dominance, but something else. A need to take care of me. A need I hadn’t realized I craved until now.
"Let me," he murmured, and I couldn’t
