Chapter Fourteen: Don't Leave Me

Adara studiously avoided Dagonet for the next few days, speaking to him only when necessary. She was sure Vanora noticed the change in her, but she was too tactful to ask Adara what it was.

It was on the third day since the storm that she finally spoke to him. She was lying in her bed, dozing off when there was a soft tap at the door. She recognised the knock as Dagonet's, since he had often come to see her and bandage her fingers.

Adara was suddenly wide-awake. Did she pretend to be asleep and let him leave? Or did she let him in, look him in the eyes and face the growing fear inside her: the fear that she could love him.

She had decided to fain sleep, when her mouth opened of its own accord and called him in.

Dagonet opened the door cautiously and came in slowly, closing the door behind him. he said nothing but took the seat beside Adara's bed.

She sat up, and put her hands out for him. He took one hand in his own, and began to unwrap the bandages slowly and gently. Adara felt a tinge run down her spine at the touch of his rough hands on her smooth ones, and for a moment she wanted the touch to never stop.

Dagonet inspected Adara's fingers carefully, meticulously avoiding her eyes, though he could feel hers on his face. for a fleeting moment he wanted to look up, to catch her watching him and see the look of fright on her face like when he had found her in the storm.

But sense prevailed, and he did not meet her eyes before speaking.

"They are looking better," he indicated her fingers.

"Yes," she flexed them gently. "They feel it."

Against all his wishes, Dagonet's head was slowly drawn up until his eyes met Adara's gaze. He was startled to see the same emotion in her eyes as in his own. A bitter struggle was going on inside each of them, and as their eyes met all defences fell away.

Adara suddenly felt unprotected under Dagonet's steady gaze, as if all her defiance had been stripped away, leaving her with nothing but raw emotion. She gently ran her fingers through his, marvelling at the effect the touch of his skin on hers had on her.

Dagonet looked into Adara's eyes and saw her soul. She had thrown herself recklessly at him, and was falling with no one but him able to catch her. Suddenly, Dagonet made up his mind.

He rose, and Adara's fingers dropped from his hands as he made his way to the door.

"Don't leave me!" Adara pleaded, finally throwing herself at the mercy of a man she hardly knew at all, and yet felt as if she knew everything there was to know about him.

"I wasn't going to," Dagonet said, bolting the door with a firm gesture and turning back to her.