Cassian didn't move at first.He just sat there, watching her—memorizing every detail of her face, from the faint freckles scattered across her cheeks to the way her lashes fluttered slightly, as if she was still caught in a dream. The bruises on her skin were a painful contrast to her usual soft glow, but she was here. Breathing. Safe.That was all that mattered.His fingers twitched, hesitating for only a second before he made his decision.Carefully, he stood and moved around to the other side of the bed, easing himself onto the mattress with slow, deliberate movements. The need to be close to her, to feel her warmth and know she was real, was something he couldn't ignore.The bed dipped slightly beneath his weight as he settled beside her. For a moment, he simply lay there, one arm resting above his head as he turned to face her. The dim glow of the candles flickered across her features, casting soft shadows that only made her seem more ethereal.His gaze flicked down to their hands—her fingers still loosely curled, his own instinctively reaching out to brush against them. He didn't hold her hand this time. Just let their fingertips graze, light as a whisper.Something in his chest tightened.She looked so small against the pillows, fragile in a way that made his stomach twist. The memories of seeing her broken and battered in that hospital bed flashed through his mind, and for the first time in years, Cassian felt something dangerously close to fear.Fear of losing her.He exhaled slowly, running a hand down his face before turning onto his side, closer now. Close enough that he could hear the steady rhythm of her breathing.It was slow and steady, reassuring, but still—his mind raced, filled with thoughts of how to keep her safe, how to keep her close. His father's threats still lingered like a shadow over their lives.But for now, he didn't want to think about that. He didn't want to think about the looming danger that surrounded them. Not when she was here, with him, safe in their little corner of the world.Her body shifted just slightly, and Cassian watched as she instinctively curled into him, pressing her warmth against his side. He could feel her breath on his chest, soft and steady, and it made his heart beat a little faster.Without thinking, his arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer as he breathed in her scent—chai, cinnamon, and something uniquely her.His body relaxed in response, the tension that had been building for days starting to loosen as he held her. She fit so perfectly against him, like a puzzle piece he never knew he was missing.For a long time, they lay there, in silence. The only sound in the room was the soft, rhythmic beep of the heart monitor that reassured Cassian with every pulse, each beat reminding him that she was still here, still with him.It was a strange kind of peace.His thoughts wandered, slipping into places they hadn't been in years. He hadn't realized how much he'd longed for this—longed for someone to be there beside him, someone who wasn't just a part of his world but a part of him.He hadn't realized how much he needed her until this moment.And it terrified him.He had lived in a world of control, of calculation. He had built walls around himself, but she had torn through them in ways he couldn't explain. And now, with her here, in his arms, he felt the full weight of it.The need to protect her. To love her.But also—the fear of losing her.Cassian pressed his lips to the top of her head, a soft kiss that was more a whisper than anything else."You're safe here," he murmured softly, as though the words could protect her, as though they could shield her from whatever danger loomed just beyond their reach.Sera shifted again, her fingers lightly brushing his chest as she stirred in her sleep. He tightened his hold on her instinctively, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her breath.Her eyelids fluttered, and for a moment, Cassian thought she might wake, but then she let out a soft sigh, a peaceful sound that settled over him like a blanket.She was here. She was safe.And for now, that was all that mattered.