As the Moon Falls: An Enchantress Awakens Novella by Kristen R. Moore

Author:Kristen R. Moore [Moore, Kristen R. & Moore, Kristen R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing
Published: 2024-02-27T18:30:00+00:00

Thirteen

“Just try again,” Evren pleaded. It’d been Tallulah’s third attempt, and she still struggled to stretch her arm fully. “You have to begin moving it or it won’t heal properly. If you keep coddling⁠—”

“I’m not coddling it,” Tallulah snapped, sinking back into the sofa. She ran a hand down her face, partially out of frustration and partially to conceal the tears.

She wiped a rogue tear away, and Evren’s face fell.

She was coddling her arm. She wasn’t sure if it was because it hurt or because she knew that once it healed, he’d send her to Valebridge. To her fate. Her death.

“All right.” Evren sighed and took a step backward, then sipped from one of Tallulah’s mugs—light blue with a gold filigree handle. It was one of her favorites; the light blue reminding her of a cloudless day. She’d found it in the greenhouse and had used it nearly every day since. When Evren chose it this morning for the pine needle tea she’d made them, it warmed her much like the tea itself.

She shivered, running her hands down her arms. The snow hadn’t let up all day and tonight would be the coldest of Winter yet. Another storm had begun, there was no denying that.

“If you don’t want to keep trying, that’s fine. All I’m saying is by keeping your arm locked in one position like that, you’re more likely to be sore.” He watched her cautiously over his mug.

Tallulah averted her eyes, not wanting to get lost in his like she foolishly had a few days ago when they’d been laughing over the plants.

“Fine,” she said, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. She cracked one eye open when she heard Evren shuffle toward the sofa. He sank down next to her, leaving his mug of tea steaming on the workbench.

“Let me help,” he said.

Her eyes shot open completely as her head snapped toward him. He looked genuine enough. His eyes had softened the last few days, even if he still had a nervous twitch about him. How is it that a line of sweat was always just above his brow when it was freezing cold in here?

Tallulah looked away again, not realizing how long she’d been staring. Before her cheeks could heat, she disregarded the interaction and sat straight.

“I don’t need your help.” She straightened her arm to stretch it fully. Pain shot through her elbow and cleared up to her shoulder. Wincing, she pulled her arm back close to her chest, exactly where she’d kept it since her injury. She had made a point since he washed her hair nearly a week ago that she simply could not ask for his help again. It was too vulnerable. Too weak.

Be strong.

“Go slower.” Evren scooted closer. “Like this.”

Gently, his fingers gripped her forearm. The heat of his touch seared through her ivory sweater, but she held her wits about her. Giving him the silent approval he sought. His fingers widened their grip around her arm, and he slowly straightened it for her.

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