I look up into his eyes. A small part of me wants to just soften, and say, I'm okay, it's fine. But at the same time... literally everyone else is already here! Elena, Kael, Grandpa Eldric, my brother Aerynthar—they all managed to show up during the actual life-or-death crisis. And Lucian is only walking in now, after all the blood has been spilled and the shit is already done.
I gently but firmly shove his large hand off my arm.
"I am entirely unharmed," I murmur, crossing my arms and pointedly looking away from his intense gaze. "Everyone else came on time."
Lucian stares at me for a long, silent second.
He registers the sharp, petty annoyance in my voice, and a flicker of deep guilt flashes through his usually expressionless eyes. His jaw tightens, but he doesn't argue. He knows I am right.
Taking a slow breath, Lucian turns his freezing, deadly gaze away from me and looks directly at Kael for a situational report.
