[Gale's POV]
Ovelia's arms came around me, returning the hug with a gentle, steady pressure. The contact was more than physical comfort. Now that I was near her, the natural, warm energy of her life force—her aura—brushed against my depleted senses. I could feel the faint, steady pull as my own exhausted body instinctively began to siphon tiny amounts of it, a parched root drawing moisture from fertile soil.
It was a slow trickle, but it was a start.
Over her shoulder, my gaze landed on the new adornment in her hair: the hairpin with the crimson rose. The craftsmanship was simple but elegant.
Ace. He must have bought it for her. A practical gesture, or a possessive one?
I lifted my head slightly, my eyes meeting Ace's over Ovelia's blonde hair. The look on his face was a masterpiece of suppressed irritation. His silver eyes were narrowed, his jaw set in a tight line.
He didn't like me touching her.
