ed, as she went to it without a moment's rest, tending his wound. Her hands moved steady though touched by the silence between them. She

r death by those who once called him family. Yet, as she worked over his wounds, Lila couldn'

ong, out over the taut sense of his heat, of muscles straining under her palm, but for an instant closed his eyes, a

happened? She asked softly, almost

intensity making her catch her breath. He didn't say a word for a

, his voice low and rough. "They branded

r heart aching for

d. "There's a prophecy. One that speaks of a rogue-marked,

s narrowed and she leaned in. "Wh

something in the distance that only he could comprehend. His hand rose weakly,

with bitterness. "They think if the prophecy comes true, I'll mean t

ituals and secrets dangerous enough to stop one's heart-but nothing like this

f all along about the bond that tied them. The healer in her was craving to obliterate h

" Lila gently asked, never

think I need to understand what this mark represents. And I also need to get

when she remained there over the rogue's body, she knew very wel

RT

h tired and emotionally traumatized. Although he had grown used to living on his own and relying so

i

eedless to say, but Kael couldn't help but notice the longing for something that her gaze exhibited too. One day when they were looking at each

here for long. Every place was temporary, every person a potential threat. Yet here

casting a pale light across the room. He needed to leave, to continue

mself, as much to convince his o

uld rise, the do

he past few hours, and Kael thought she would leave him to rest. But there she was, standing in fro

o," she said, her vo

rd to let his guard down. Not now. Not when his past was hu

they'll come for you," Kael warned, his v

expression unwavering.

furrowed. "Yo

e been training to heal for as long as I can remember. I've seen the bloodshed, the violence. But I

k that echoed his own. She did not fear what he brought into her life, danger

eful way, then sat beside him on the cot,

"I do not know what it is in the prophecy.

erous in the intensity of her gaze-a spark that was more than just a healer's compassion. Sh

ke," Kael murmured. "Y

h quiet resolve. "I t