Maxi was still sobbing as she raised her head to take him in. Silhouetted against the light, his gaunt face appeared sharper and more rugged than before, and shadows darkened the skin beneath his eyes. But even then, he was spellbindingly beautiful.
As Riftan stared at her in wonderment, Maxi ran a light finger over the dark contours of his chiseled cheek, and her touch seemed to rouse him from his trance. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her back, frantically scanning her from head to toe.
"Are you hurt?"
Surprised by his harsh tone, Maxi stopped crying.
Riftan's pale lips quivered ever so slightly. "Why are you covered in blood? What on earth…?"