Elián;
"Zephan," I call in a voice so quiet, I doubt he hears me. But the way his fingers pause in my hair tells me he heard me clearly.
He shifts slightly behind me and turns on his side, propping himself up on one elbow so he can look down at my face.
"Yes?" He whispers, and I stare at him.
The lantern beside the bed throws soft, golden hues across the room. It illuminates his eyes, the sharp lines of his jaw, and the faint concern already forming between his brows.
For a moment, I just watch him. Letting all the emotions settle inside me.
The panic from earlier is gone now. The storm that had torn through my chest has finally settled into something quieter… something steadier.
But my heart is still beating faster than usual.
Not from fear, though. This time, it's from decision.
"I want you to mark me." I blurt. The words leave my mouth before I can second-guess them, and Zephan freezes.
I watch as he goes completely still, and I just smile at him.
