Chapter 68

ELIZA’S POV After our heart-to-heart talk, Alexander looked deep into my eyes. It wasn’t until he reached out and ran a gentle finger over my arm that I followed his gaze and noticed the dried blood staining my skin. His jaw tightened. "You shouldn't have to sit in this filth," he said softly. Before I could protest, he turned to the nearest servant and ordered hot water to be prepared. The quiet authority in his voice sent a shiver through me, though whether from warmth or something deeper, I couldn't tell. When we got to his tent, the water was ready. "I can do it—" I started, but he gave me a look that silenced me. Not out of dominance, but something else. A need to take care of me. A need I hadn’t realized I craved until now. "Let me," he murmured, and I couldn’t refuse him. I sat before the basin. My heart hammered as he knelt beside me. Each brush of his knuckles against my skin sent warmth through me. He was careful as he peeled away my dirty clothes, revealing the bruises and s