"My lord… my lady."
Stella's voice trembled when she saw Lumina, her hair clinging to her shoulders, her gown soaked through.
Ashen set Lumina down in the outer chamber with far more force than he intended, his jaw tight, his chest rising too fast.
"What is wrong with you?" His voice thundered before he could stop himself.
Lumina lifted her face toward him, annoyance flashing through the tears she refused to let fall. "Why are you yelling at me?"
"I asked a question that deserved an answer."
"Stop it. Do not…"
"You should not do things that force me to raise my voice in the first place." His words cut sharply, fear disguised as anger.
Footsteps rushed toward them. Aria and Ero appeared at the entrance, drawn by the sound of his voice.
"Ashen!" Lumina called out, but he had already turned away.
"Why can you never listen to me?" His hands curled at his sides. "What if I had not reached you in time?"
