Chapter 48
Nightfall – Hospital Room
The night outside was quiet, the moon casting a pale glow over the hospital's exterior. Inside, the sterile scent of antiseptics and the steady beeping of monitors filled the air. Damian stood in the dimly lit waiting area, his broad shoulders tense, his jaw set in a firm line. The exhaustion in his bloodshot eyes betrayed the sleepless hours he had endured, but he was unwilling to leave Tanin's side—not now, not ever.
"I'll stay here," he said, his voice rough but resolute. He looked at his mother, Lyra, and Antara, their worried gazes meeting his. "You should all go home. The palace shouldn't stay empty for too long... with—" He stopped himself mid-sentence, swallowing the lump in his throat. The weight of responsibility and fear pressed down on him like a vice. "I'll be fine."
Amelia crossed her arms, reading the unspoken turmoil in his eyes. "Damian—"
