33
~Elara's POV
I pushed back my chair slowly, trying not to make it squeak, even though my heart felt loud enough to betray me anyway. Darlon's offer still echoed in my head.
"Shopping."
The word clung to my mind like something sticky. I didn't know why it made me feel so small, but it did. Maybe because I kept imagining myself walking beside him, wearing clothes that didn't belong to someone like me. Clothes that would make people whisper, "She doesn't fit."
I swallowed and forced myself to look up at him.
"I have enough clothes, shoes and bags," I said softly. "I don't need more."
Darlon held my gaze for a full second. His eyes stayed calm, but they were studying me, searching for something I didn't know how to hide.
After a moment, he nodded once.
"Alright," he said. "But I still want you to get new things."
I blinked.
" If you want to go alone, that's fine."
