Seraphina stirred against the pillows, the dull ache in her body a stark reminder of everything that had happened. The air around her was warm, filled with a familiar scent—spiced, soothing.Chai.Her hazel eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light of the room. The soft flicker of candles danced across the walls, casting warm shadows over the deep slate and emerald tones. French doors stood across from the bed, slightly ajar, the sheer curtains billowing gently in the evening breeze. Beyond them, fairy lights glowed along the porch, their golden warmth eerily similar to the ones in her flatlet.Her breath hitched.This wasn't the hospital.Her fingers twitched against the sheets, the sensation of silk and cotton cool against her bruised skin. The bed was massive, draped in charcoal and forest green, the pillows fluffed just enough to cradle her.Her gaze swept the room, taking in the details—the bookshelves lined with carefully placed novels, the flickering candles strategically placed, the fresh flowers sitting in a vase on the nightstand. Lilies. White and delicate.A lump formed in her throat.Cassian.Her heart pounded as she turned her head, her breath catching when she saw him.Cassian sat beside her, one of her hands cradled in his, his thumb brushing slow, gentle strokes along her skin. His other hand had been tracing the curve of her face, fingertips barely skimming along her cheekbone as though afraid she'd disappear if he let go.His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those icy blue depths—held something she wasn't sure she had ever seen before.Relief.Something deeper.Something terrifying.She swallowed, her voice hoarse. "Cassian…"He didn't speak right away. He just watched her, his thumb still caressing her knuckles, memorizing the feel of her skin against his own.When he did speak, his voice was quiet, low."This is our home."Her breath stalled.She blinked up at him, her mind still sluggish from exhaustion, trying to piece together what he meant."Our home?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.Cassian's lips pressed into a thin line as he exhaled through his nose, nodding once. "I had to take you somewhere safe. No one knows about this place but me." His fingers tightened around hers slightly. "No one will hurt you again."The weight of his words settled over her, sinking into her bones.He had done this for her.Every detail, every choice—it was deliberate. It was him trying to give her something. Safety. Comfort. A place to breathe.Her throat tightened as she glanced around the room again, truly seeing it for the first time. The deep, calming colors, the warmth of the space—it was a perfect blend of them both. His cool, structured style mixed with her earthy, homey warmth.It wasn't just a place to keep her safe.It was a home.Their home.Her lips parted, but no words came out.Cassian must have sensed her struggle because he shifted closer, his hand slipping from hers only to cup the side of her face. His thumb brushed over her cheek with the same tenderness she had felt in his hands before, his touch hesitant but impossibly soft."You scared the hell out of me," he admitted, voice raw, almost broken. "I can't—" He cut himself off, jaw tightening, his gaze dropping for a fraction of a second before meeting hers again. "I can't let anything happen to you."Seraphina's breath shuddered, her fingers curling slightly against the sheets. She wasn't sure if it was the exhaustion, the pain, or something deeper, but something inside her cracked at the way he looked at her.Like she was the most fragile, irreplaceable thing in his world.And for the first time in days, she felt safe.Cassian exhaled slowly, brushing his lips against her forehead, lingering there longer than he should have. His warmth seeped into her skin, his breath fanning over her temple before he finally pulled back.Seraphina stared at him in silence, something unreadable flickering in her eyes.And then—despite everything—she smiled.Soft. Barely there.But Cassian saw it.And for a brief moment, the weight crushing his chest eased.She was still here.