Chapter 172: slipping control

Blake's eyes snapped open, the touch jolting him from the depths of sleep. As he blinked away the remnants of drowsiness, he found Elena's face hovering inches from his own, her features illuminated by the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the window. His heart hammered in his chest, a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins as he processed the sudden proximity.

"Elena?" Blake's voice came out as a hoarse whisper, barely audible in the stillness of the room. His gaze flickered uncertainly over her face, searching for any hint of her intentions. Was she awake? Had she reached out to him intentionally, or was it merely a subconscious gesture in her sleep?