Riku held Aurelia's hand. His words hung in the air between them. "There is no way I am letting you go now."
Aurelia stared at him, her face a bright, beautiful crimson. She was completely speechless.
The moment was broken by a sharp, disapproving voice.
"Riku."
He turned. Lila was standing there, her arms crossed, her expression a mixture of annoyance and concern.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked, her voice sharp. "Let go of her hand."
Riku blinked. He looked down and realized he was still holding Aurelia's hand tightly. He let go instantly, as if he had been burned. A wave of embarrassment washed over him.
"I didn't mean..." he stammered. "I was just trying to reassure her."
"You have a strange way of reassuring people," Sherry muttered from behind Lila.
Aurelia, however, just smiled. It was a small, gentle smile, but it was the first genuine one they had seen from her. The blush on her cheeks was still there, but the fear in her eyes was gone.
