Ruelle's bruised bare feet hung midair, her pulse pounding in her ears. Lucian's words were a contrast to the heat of his grip—firm and steady.
"My shoes tore when I was being chased," she said, her voice hoarse, a faint tremour betraying the fear still clinging to her. Remembering the corrupted vampire, she blurted in a rush, "That corrupted vampire is—"
"Is dead," Lucian interrupted flatly.
Her breath caught. Dead? Surely, the creature hadn't died on its own. And considering they were now alone, it wasn't difficult to guess who had ended it.
"Can you…let me down now?" she asked finally, her cheeks flushing as embarrassment crept up her neck. For the first time, she noticed the steady rise and fall of Lucian's chest against her back, the faint brush of his breath near her ear, and the way he carried her effortlessly, as though she weighed no more than air.