The tension in the air was palpable as Alina and Kael faced off once more in the confines of the palace. It had been days since they had last spoken without the pretense of court formalities, and Alina could feel the widening rift between them. Yet, in spite of the misunderstandings, something between them had shifted.
During a midnight patrol, Alina stumbled upon a wounded soldier lying near the palace gardens. Without hesitation, she rushed to help, using her limited medical knowledge to tend to his wounds. As she wrapped the bandages around the soldier's arm, she heard footsteps approaching. It was Kael, his eyes flashing with both anger and something she couldn't quite place.
"You should not be here, consorting with soldiers in the dead of night," he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Alina stood her ground, her eyes blazing with defiance. "This man was bleeding to death. I could not simply leave him."
Kael's jaw tightened. Without another word, he knelt beside her and took over the bandaging, his hands surprisingly gentle for someone known for his ruthlessness. As he worked, their hands brushed, and for a brief moment, the animosity between them faded into something softer.
But the moment was fleeting. Kael stood abruptly, his face hardening once more. "Do not mistake this for kindness, Alina. You are still my prisoner."
Alina watched him walk away, her heart a tangled mess of emotions. The man she thought she knew was proving to be more complex than she had imagined.