His touch was firm yet uncharacteristically tender, his gaze searching hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.
His hands rose to cup her face, rough palms cradling her cheeks with surprising care. Tilting her face upward, he brushed his thumb across the lone tear that had slipped down her skin, wiping it away as though erasing the evidence of her vulnerability. He hesitated for only a moment before leaning down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. The warmth of his lips contrasted with the cool air between them, grounding her in the moment.
"I'll be outside," he said quietly, his voice so gentle it felt like a whisper against her soul. Ephyra could only nod, the lump in her throat rendering her incapable of words.
Lyle's eyes lingered on her, sharp and unwavering, as if committing every detail of her expression to memory. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he stepped back and left, his footsteps fading into the distance.