The moment the stranger lifted Elara's wrist, every alarm inside me rang.
I moved before I even thought about it.
One step.
Then another.
Until I was standing directly between them.
The man's hand paused midair.
Elara seemed too stunned to react.
I wasn't.
"That's unnecessary."
My voice came out much colder than expected.
The stranger blinked.
Then looked at me.
Not offended.
Amused.
As though my reaction had entertained him.
Slowly, he released Elara's wrist.
"I meant no harm."
"Most people say that before causing it."
A flicker of laughter appeared in his blue eyes.
Behind me, Elara finally seemed to return to reality.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
Embarrassed.
Confused.
And judging from the way she kept glancing at him—
far too easy to influence.
Which only made me stand straighter.
The stranger noticed.
His gaze shifted from me to Elara.
Then stopped.
For a moment, he simply looked at her.
Not at her dress.
Not at her title.
Her.
