[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?
