Veric stays there looking at his own hand while I walk away.
His fingers open and close slowly, almost cautiously, as if a sharp movement might expose the whole thing as some kind of illusion. He turns the wrist, touches the forearm, presses the skin near the elbow, and finally brings the hand up to the rebuilt shoulder. The arm answers with the ease of something that was never torn off.
When he lifts his eyes to Rhayne, his expression collapses.
She's still kneeling near the Goddess, one hand braced on the floor while she recovers from the offering. The remaining earring shines alone in her other ear.
Veric goes to her.
He doesn't run, but there's urgency in the way he crosses the space. When he gets there, he pulls Rhayne into a hug before she can react.
"Thank you."
The word comes out muffled against her hair.
Rhayne goes rigid immediately.
