Chal shook his head and reached out to gently touch her cheek. He turned her face so that she would look at him. "No Bliss. Not if you don't want that. I would never do anything to you that would hurt or demean you. I would have you stay as a companion. You would be safe and cared for here."

Bliss stared at him and confusion made her brows furl. "Why? I'm a nobody, a-a nothing? Why would you take me in?" She seemed to realize that she stared at him and she dropped her gaze back to her hands. When he lifted his hand to touch her, she flinched...