Beneath the Veil of Shadows

Chapter 27

As soon as Sapphire stirred awake, her heart raced as memories of the previous night flooded her mind. The kiss. It had been unexpected, electric, and utterly consuming. She could still feel the lingering warmth of Elias's lips against hers, the way his hands had gripped her throat with a possessive urgency, as if she were his to claim.

Sapphire buried her face in her pillow, groaning. What had she been thinking? She had crossed a line, and now everything felt different. The silence of her room felt thick, echoing her chaotic thoughts.

She got out of bed, attempting to shake off the memories. Just act normal, she told herself, though her heart was anything but normal.

When she stepped into the living room, she found Elias sitting at the kitchen counter, a mug of coffee in his hands. He looked up, his expression neutral, but there was a glint in his eye that made her heart skip a beat.

"Morning," he said, his tone casual, yet his eyes betrayed a hint of concern as they lingered on her.

"Morning," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. She could feel her cheeks burning under his gaze.

There was a moment of silence as they regarded each other. The air between them felt thick with unspoken words, and Sapphire's mind raced. She wanted to say something-anything-to break the tension, but before she could speak, Elias took a step closer.

"How is your wound?" he asked, his voice softer now, tinged with genuine concern. His eyes briefly dropped to where the bandage was hidden beneath her shirt. "Does it still hurt?"

She hesitated, her hand instinctively brushing against her ribs. "It is fine," she said, though the wince that followed betrayed her words.

Elias frowned, his jaw tightening. "Fine doesn’t look like that," he muttered, his voice low but firm. "You shouldn’t be up and moving around yet."

"I will live," she replied, attempting a light tone, though the ache in her side made her grimace. "I have dealt with worse."

He stepped even closer, his gaze narrowing. "You don’t need to deal with anything alone anymore. If you are in pain, you tell me. Understood?"

Sapphire blinked at his sudden intensity, the warmth in his words catching her off guard. She nodded, unable to find the words to respond, her cheeks flushing under his unwavering stare.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, his tone softer now, though his eyes drifted briefly to where her bandaged ribs lay.

"Not really," she said, trying to sound indifferent. "I kept thinking about-" she hesitated, then forced herself to finish, "everything."

He raised an eyebrow, an unreadable expression crossing his face. "Care to elaborate?"

"Not really," she shot back, crossing her arms defensively. "I am not in the mood for a discussion about my dreams."

He leaned back against the counter. The way he watched her made her stomach twist. She could sense that he was holding something back.

"Look," she said, taking a deep breath, "I don't know what last night was. Maybe it was just a moment, and we should move on."

Elias's gaze sharpened, the concerned edge fading. "You think it was just a moment?"

"Yes!" she insisted, but her voice lacked conviction. "It was impulsive."

His expression darkened, and for a moment, she saw a glimpse of the man beneath the charming facade. "If it was just a moment, why do you look like you have seen a ghost?"

"Maybe because I have," she snapped, feeling her frustration boil over. "A ghost of what could happen if we let this go too far."

Elias pushed himself off the counter, taking a step closer, his presence both comforting and intimidating. "And what do you think will happen, Sapphire?"