[Ray's POV]
My heart lurched as Ovelia threw herself in front of me. Without thinking, I lunged forward, my hand snapping out to catch the knife's handle mid-air before it could reach her. With a sharp flick of my wrist, I sent it flying back—embedding it deep into the drunkard's thigh.
"Arghhh!! How dare you, you bastard?!" the man howled, collapsing to one knee.
I turned to Ovelia, my pulse still hammering. She stood frozen, her entire body trembling—not just from fear, but from the adrenaline crashing through her. Her wide eyes glistened with unshed tears. This human had just risked her life for me.
I grabbed her shoulders, my grip firm but not harsh. "Don't ever do that again!" My voice cracked on the last word—I couldn't stop it. I wasn't angry. I was terrified. "That knife was aimed straight at your heart! You could have died!"
A tear finally escaped, tracing a slow path down her cheek. She bit her lip, fighting to keep the rest at bay.
