Chapter 216

Elara's POV

I studied Zarek carefully, taking in the fading redness along his cheek, the split at the corner of his lips, and, almost instinctively, I checked his teeth. Zorath's punch had not been gentle. The Steelmaw Recon Unit operative wasn't someone who held back, and Zarek had taken that full force.

"From now on," I said, my voice soft but firm, "no matter who tries to hit you, don't just st