She simply didn't want to talk.
"I'm sure you do."
"I do."
"You weren't sleeping."
"I was trying to."
"Terrible attempt."
Elena shifted slightly, pulling the blanket higher.
A clear indication that the conversation was unwelcome.
Unfortunately for her, Alaric wasn't ready to leave yet.
He looked at the covered figure on the bed.
Then at the bandaged hand resting near the pillow.
Then he remembered the doctor's words.
Blood clots.
Bruising.
Untreated injuries.
His jaw tightened.
"What happened to your arm?"
The room immediately fell silent.
The kind of silence that answered the question better than words ever could.
Several seconds passed.
Then Elena replied quietly,
"The doctor was exaggerating."
Alaric almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was such an obvious lie.
"You realize I heard the entire conversation."
"That sounds like a bad habit."
"I learned from Clara."
That finally earned a small huff from beneath the blanket.
