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With both of them coated in sand, he climbed the slight incline of the tunnels. Minutes ticked by, and she counted each one by his large heartbeat resonating from her ear pressed against his chest.

It was fast and pounded heavily.

“Nathair... what happened?” she asked, despite knowing she wouldn’t get a response. She nibbled at her bottom lip with stress. “Does that happen often?”

He halted their climb and then sighed. When he knew she stared at his orange orbs, they bobbed up and down in the darkness.

“Is... it normal for Duskwalkers?”

They swiped side to side.

“It’s not? So you’re the only one who has to deal with...that?”

She felt his shoulder lift, as if he’d shrugged. Then, as if he thought better of it, his orbs bobbed again.

Unsure of what to ask, or how he would even be able to answer the many questions she had, she nodded to show she understood. He pressed on.

Does he normally... hurt himself?He had multiple gashes down his back and shoulders.Gosh. I feel so bad for him.She couldn’t imagine going through something so distressing.

When they entered the main area of his home, she noted the familiar trickle of water. The chest thunked and echoed when he placed it down before he slipped Linh to her feet.

Linh put her hands out, trying to orientate herself in the darkness.

Clunking and scraping of wood came from behind, followed by sharp clanks as sparks flickered. Nathair started her fire, providing her with light and the ability to orientate herself.

“Thank you,” she stated, her stomach clenching as she fisted her shoes and the shell in her hand.

She appreciated his care, but she felt so awful that he needed to do it for her when he was in pain. The fact he’d had the foresight to aid her meant much.

Don’t cry. Don’t make it worse. He probably already feels bad enough.She held her tears back, but she was still so shocked and startled that she didn’t know what to do other than awkwardly stand there like an idiot.

Her nerves were fried, and her brain was so mushy that she couldn’t think of a single thing to say to make him feel better. Should she say sorry that he had to deal with his trances? She didn’t want him to think she pitied him.

She didn’t want to be pitied for her problems.

Even though flames began to flicker to life, Linh was too chilled by the events to feel warmed by them. Even the light seemed muted against the hard pounding in her veins, but she was relieved when it allowed her to see him by the flames glowing against his scales, his protruding bones, and thewhiteness of his skull. His orbs dipped lower, just as clawed fingertips touched the inside of her wrist.

Nathair gingerly lifted her hand. He pushed her sleeve to her elbow, then his palm brushed over the flesh of her arm.

She wondered why he was inspecting her, only to rip away from him when she saw the palm-print bruise marring her. Covering her forearm, she ignored the tiny, distressed wheeze that came from him. His orange orbs darkened in their hue, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out the colour reflected his guilt.

“It’s fine,” she said honestly, hoping her trembling voice held the weight of her sincerity. “It was an accident.”

Linh then lifted a reassuring smile to him before needing to avert her gaze as the glowing colour deepened further. She reached for him instead.

“L-let me take a look at your back. We should wash your wounds. There must be sand in them.”

Nathair darted back, evading her touch before her palms could land on him. Once more, he gingerly reached for her arm. When she attempted to pull away, he let out a dark growl, causing her back to stiffen. She complied, offering it to him.

Orange light glowed and glittered around her arm when he laid his palm over the top of it. It looked the same as the light magic he placed, and she watched with rapt curiosity as coolness radiated beneath her skin.

When the magic dimmed and then faded, he pulled his touch from her. She let out a surprised gasp when she noticed the bruise was gone, as if he’d never hurt her to begin with.

“I didn’t know you could heal,” she stated with awe. “Thank you.”

She offered him another reassuring smile, this one stronger than before.

Nathair reached out and cupped the side of her head, his thumb brushing over her skin. His palm and fingertips had beensmooth and soft, like his flesh lacked any callouses or roughness.Is he saying sorry for hurting me?