Chapter 9Ryu took hold of Egil’s arm and tugged him up the stairs. His heart was hammering. He wanted to fly, but he was terrified of changing. What if the scarring was so bad that he couldn’t show himself?
When they reached the fourth floor, he let go of Egil and pulled his shirt over his head.
Egil’s gasp had him freezing, and he looked down at his exposed skin. The patchwork of scar tissue made him wince.
“I can’t imagine how painful it must’ve been.” Egil stepped closer. His hand reached out, and for a second Ryu jerked away, then he stilled. Egil wanted to touch him. He took a deep breath and forced his body to relax, and Egil’s fingers traced the edge of the scar on his chest. “Does it hurt?”
Ryu shook his head. It was numbed. He could feel touch, but it was as if his nerves were
