Chapter 20

• I saw his face drawing closer to me, closer than normal, or maybe I was overthinking things, or maybe not. But his face continued to draw closer.
• “Liora,” he called me softly. It was with a voice that I hadn't heard him use before, not even on Seraphina, a voice filled with emotions. “You have no idea what you've done today, how you stepped in to salvage a dangerous situation. I am super proud of what you have become. You demonstrated a level of bravery that is still beyond comprehension; you were fiercely capable, displaying unbeatable skills. At some point, I was scared to my marrow that I almost lost you when the battle intensified, but you made us alive, even healing others in the process; you returned to me.”
• I kept mute as I watched him keenly, I was hoping he could finally stop as my heart rate kept skipping a beat. The look he was giving me was strange; every eye contact had a secret message to convey, but I couldn't place my hands in it. It was an intense gaze but with a recognizable tenderness. I remained conscious of his touch on my lap, I tried blocking it off, but no, my senses were already alerted.