Elin's POV:

Saira's piercing scream jolted me upright. My eyes immediately darted to the two vivid red scratches on the back of Aaron's right hand—marks I had unwittingly left.

I had actually hurt him? And hadn't even noticed?

A surge of panic welled inside me, fearing Saira might catch on to something. Yet Aaron, ever composed and unruffled, dismissed it with effortless coolness.

"My tie clip scratched me," he said lightly, as if it were ...