Kael’s arms were warm, but Nia was too hurt to be comforted in them. The moment he crossed the threshold into his quarters, the shift in air hit her—clean, quiet, and too still. The silence wasn’t comforting. It was the kind that rang in her ears.
He lowered her onto a velvet couch, and she immediately tried to stand on her own, but her legs buckled under her. She gasped as she nearly fell, and only caught herself with a hand against the armrest.
Kael stepped in quickly to help her.
“Don’t touch me,” she snapped, her voice hoarse with pain.
He backed off without argument, raising his hands in surrender. “I’m not,” he said softly.
She dragged herself to the edge of the couch, inching into the farthest corner to get away from him. She wrapped her arms around her ribs and sat hunched, h
