Carcel nodded. It was a small, stiff movement, and he winced as he did it. The motion seemed to send a jolt of pain through his entire body, but he didn't make a sound. He just leaned back against the dark wood of the bedpost, his breathing heavy and uneven.
The room was quiet again, but the air still felt charged with violence.
Ines stood in front of him. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably. She looked at his face, and her heart broke into a thousand sharp pieces.
He looked terrible. His left eye was already swelling shut, the skin turning a dark, angry purple. His lip was split deep, a jagged line of red against his pale skin. There was a bruise forming on his jaw, the distinct imprint of her brother's fury.
