She studied me for a long moment, her green eyes searching for the truth in my words. The doubt lingered, but then her lips curved into a weak smile that mirrored mine.
"You've had a long night," I said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Let's leave if you want."
She nodded, and before she could protest, I lifted her off her feet in one smooth motion.
A startled gasp escaped her lips, her hands instinctively flying to my shoulders for support. "You always do that like I weigh nothing," she said, her brows furrowing slightly in mock protest.
I smirked, the tension easing from my chest for the first time that night. "Maybe that's because her Grace is light as a feather," I teased, holding her closer.
Her lips twitched into something more genuine this time—a fleeting glimpse of the woman who had begun to consume my every thought. For now, that sliver of trust, that tentative smile, was enough to anchor me.
