Lila’s POV
“How do you feel now?” Lior asks, straightening to his full height. His hand lingers in the air for a moment, the faint scent of ointment still between us. He’d just finished rubbing the cool balm across my skin, his touch careful, deliberate, before pressing the pain relief patch over the bruise on my leg. The sting has dulled, warmth spreading slowly in its place.
“I…” My voice trails off as I nod instead, keeping my eyes low. I can’t look at him yet. My chest feels too tight for that.
But when I finally raise my gaze, the sound of footsteps fills the space. The rest of the group is returning, their laughter echoing down the path. At the front of them—Aurelia. Her expression freezes mid-step, eyes locking onto us. Her face is tense, unreadable, but her gaze sharpens like sh
