(Amaia)
"You did what?" I ask, flabbergasted, lowering my arms and grabbing his bicep. The silvery streaks of his gently caress my hand, coiling around it with a tender touch.
"You protected me, Amaia. You protected my brothers. I can never forget that. That has indebted me to you–forever."
Alnilam is the emotional kind. I realise that, but at the same time, he buries his feelings. The innate desire to act tough and protect everyone else at the expense of his own happiness is deeply rooted in him being the eldest son.
That's exactly what this man is going to do. Whatever feelings have started to germinate inside him, he is going to nip them in the bud.
"So tell me the truth. What happened? I heard Alnitak talking about some prophecy."
A surprise passes over his face, but he masks it rather quickly. Closing his eyes for a second, Alnilam focuses them back on me.
