Evander kept his eyes on the road, his jaw clenched, gripping the wheel like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. Delphinia sat quietly in the passenger seat, her hand resting lightly on her cheek, wincing when her fingertips brushed against the tender skin. A soft groan escaped her lips as the pain jabbed at her, bringing the night's chaos back into focus.
"You should stop touching it," Evander finally said with concern.
Delphinia gave him a faint smile, her voice soft. "It stings. I can't help it."
His gaze shifted to her for a split second. "You shouldn't have had to endure that," he said, his voice lower now.
Delphinia looked down at her hands, her lips pressing together. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt something other than the weight of disappointment or fear. She felt… safe.
