Elian's gaze locked onto the girl, his eyes drinking in every detail of her features, his expression a mask of fascination and curiosity.
The wide grin she wore moments ago had slipped into something more innocent. Like she wasn't the child who just smiled like a possessed human.
Her eyes were now glassy, but behind that dullness hid a spark that made his stomach knot.
"I already did," she had said.
Now, Deidre only looked tired. Her fingers played with the hem of her pink dress, twisting the fabric like nothing had happened.
Elian rubbed the side of his face. "What did you mean by that?"
Deidre only blinked at him, lips parting in a lazy hum. "Can you carry me? My legs hurt."
"What about the tale?"
"I'll tell you if you carry me."
He stared for a long breath, searching her expression for a hint of the madness she'd shown earlier. But there was none. She was just a small girl with trembling knees and skin burned faintly red under the scorching hot sun.
