Chapter 20: Hope

XAVIER ASHERIUS’S POV

"Does it still hurt?"

I walked out of the bathroom as I wiped my fists with a towel after washing away the rogues’ blood. Peony sat on the edge of the bed, seemingly deep in her own thoughts. She glanced at me. Her eyelashes swayed gently as she blinked, followed by a faint smile on her rose-red lips.

"I'm fine. The regeneration worked," she responded.

"Let me see."

I tossed the towel into the laundry bin and knelt in front of Peony. I lifted her right sole gently, her skin twitching in response to my touch. I slowly peeled off the bandage around her calf. I sensed Peony hold her breath. It brought a smirk to my face.

The floor swallowed the fallen bandage, revealing her porcelain skin beneath, perfect without any scars—as she said. I grazed her delicate skin with my forefinger tip. An electric shiver ran down to my skin. Peony tensed as my mere touch transformed into a gentle stroke. Her lips slightly opened, letting out a silent moan.

I grasped her sole, liftin