When Amelie finally returned to the chamber with her parents, Gabriel didn't wait for her to cross the distance between them. He lunged forward, gathering her into an embrace that nearly lifted her off the floor. "Amelie!" he breathed, his hand resting possessively against the back of her head as if anchoring her to him.
When he finally pulled back, he didn't let go. His hands cupped her face, his thumbs tracing her cheekbones with frantic care. "Are you in pain? Do you feel any discomfort at all? That attack was quite strong," he said with the remnants of his fear.
Amelie shook her head, offering him a small, reassuring smile. "I don't feel any pain, Gabriel. I managed to bring the sword up just in time; I think the blade absorbed the dark energy Ophelia intended for me," she explained. "And you caught me. I felt you right behind me, like a shield, before everything went dark."
