My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace novel Chapter 202

On the endless plains under a clear sky, with the sun high and clouds faint, Xanthea slightly lifted her head to gaze at the man standing against the light. His tall physique seemed to be bathed in a faint golden glow by the sun, dazzling enough to cause a light dizziness.

Strangely enough, even though she couldn't see his face clearly, she found him incredibly handsome.

"Xan?"

"Huh?"

Lost in thought, Xanthea didn’t grasp his offered hand but stood up on her own instead.

Yet, before she could take a step, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her ankle.

"Ouch!"

She let out a low cry, furrowing her brow, and her faltering body fell into the man's arms the next second. "What happened?"

"My ankle hurts. It must be twisted."

Orion bent down to scoop her up in a princess carry and headed towards a nearby park bench.

"Orion."

"Shh," he said as he gently placed her on the bench, knelt on one knee, removed the shoe and sock from her right foot, rubbed his hands to warm them, and then placed his warm palms on her slightly protruding bone of her ankle, gently kneading.

"Ah, that feels so good."

As he varied his touch—sometimes light, sometimes firm, sometimes quick, sometimes slow—sighs of comfort spilled from Xanthea's throat. However, she noted his eyelashes slightly lowered and his facial contours rigid, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Could it be he wasn't too pleased?

Was it because she had not taken his hand, leading to her twisting her foot again?

"I’m sorry, Orion, for making trouble for you again."

She bit her lip, feeling somewhat embarrassed. "Don’t you find it odd? Every time I'm in danger or get hurt, you’re there."

"Do you realize how often you get hurt?"

Orion looked up, his gaze dark and piercing.

"Is it often? Let’s see, since my coming-of-age party, there’s the time I fell into the pool at the birthday party, choked on a fishbone on the plane, and then slipped during an audition, Ah!"

"Ha, ticklish."

While she was recounting her misadventures, he playfully tickled her foot.

"Stop, Orion, that tickles!"

"If you get hurt again."

Orion paused, his gaze lingering on her.

He could just lock her up, so she wouldn’t go anywhere.