At Dilan's gesture, Gilla leaned against the tree behind her. Her face was icy, but a hint of tension flickered in her eyes. Her delicate hand gripped Alina's tightly.
Dilan's expression grew serious. He hadn't noticed before, but now he finally saw the state of Gilla's ankle. It was far worse than he'd initially imagined. The dislocation, combined with the chafing of the rope, had caused significant bruising and swelling. Restricted blood flow had darkened her entire right foot. The stark contrast between the color of her foot and ankle and the smooth, pale skin of her thigh was shocking. Compared to the pristine whiteness of her other foot, Dilan could hardly believe they belonged to the same person.
The moment Dilan touched Gilla's right foot, he felt her body tremble sharply wit
