The soft murmur of voices outside the door alerted Cassian that the medical staff was about to enter. His gaze never wavered from Seraphina's peaceful face, still nestled against his chest. She was warm, her hair cascading like a fiery waterfall against his arm, and the steady rise and fall of her chest was the only sound that grounded him. His heartbeat, still quick from earlier moments of vulnerability, slowly began to match the pace of hers.The door creaked open, and the nurses stepped inside, their footsteps quiet and careful as they approached the bed. Cassian reluctantly loosened his hold on Sera just enough to allow them space to do their jobs. He kept his eyes fixed on her, watching as the nurses went through their checkup routine, checking vitals and adjusting the IVs with practiced ease.As one of the nurses checked the heart monitor, Cassian shifted slightly, trying to stay out of their way while also staying as close to Seraphina as he possibly could. He hadn't left her side since she'd been moved to this house, and he had no intention of leaving her alone anytime soon.The nurse gave a soft nod after glancing at the readouts. "Her vitals are stable. She's healing well," the nurse said quietly, but with a tone of professionalism that made Cassian's tense muscles relax just slightly. "We'll check in again in a few hours."Cassian's gaze never left Sera, still entranced by the delicate curve of her face, the way her lips parted with each shallow breath. The nurses finished their checkup, moving quietly to leave the room, casting one last glance at the couple before closing the door softly behind them.And then it was just him and her again.Cassian exhaled a long breath, letting his shoulders drop as he moved back, settling more comfortably into the bed. Seraphina shifted a little, turning toward him as if seeking his warmth in her sleep. She reached for his arm, pulling herself closer to him, and he couldn't help but smile softly.With her head now nestled against his chest, he gingerly brushed a lock of her fiery hair from her face. The touch was soft, almost reverent, as if he feared she might break under his touch.His fingers found their way through her hair, gently carding through the soft strands, a rhythm that seemed to soothe them both. He let his thoughts wander, watching the slow movement of her chest as it rose and fell in an almost hypnotic pattern. His hand rested on her head, his thumb stroking gently across her scalp.And as he sat there, playing with her hair in the silence of the room, something stirred deep inside him. It wasn't something he could control or fight.The realization crept up on him, quiet and unrelenting.He loved her.The thought struck him like a bolt of lightning—unexpected and all-encompassing. The way he wanted to shield her from every harm. The way he longed to keep her safe, to keep her close, to hear her laugh, to see her smile. The way every moment with her felt like something more than he had ever known.But with that realization came a sharp, cold terror that gripped him harder than anything he had ever felt. He loved her—and that meant he had something to lose. It meant vulnerability. It meant risking his heart.And in his world, where control was everything, vulnerability was dangerous.His fingers stilled in her hair as the weight of it all settled on his chest. Fear coiled tightly in his gut. He had lived a life of calculated distance—of control. He had never allowed anyone to get close enough to hurt him, but with her…with Sera…everything had changed.And now, as she lay in his arms, so fragile and yet so strong, he realized just how much she meant to him. He wasn't sure when it had happened, or how, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that she was here, with him. Alive.She shifted in his arms, nestling further into his chest as if sensing his turmoil. Her soft breath against his skin, the steady rhythm of her pulse, was the only thing grounding him. He felt his own heart steadying as he held her, trying to push away the lingering fear."Everything will be alright," he whispered softly into the top of her head, more to reassure himself than her. "I won't let anything happen to you."Her fingers moved, lightly brushing across his chest, and for a moment, Cassian thought she was still asleep. But then he felt the faintest tug at his heart as she sighed and turned her head slightly, gazing up at him with her hazel eyes, soft with sleep yet filled with a quiet understanding."I'm here," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not going anywhere."Cassian froze, staring down at her in surprise, but there was no mistaking the warmth in her gaze. There was no doubt in her words, no hesitation in the way she spoke.The vulnerability, the quiet certainty in her eyes, made something inside him ache—a deep, unspoken connection that was starting to form between them, something stronger than either of them could have expected.And as she closed her eyes again, her body relaxing into his embrace, Cassian's heart clenched.He couldn't protect her from everything. He couldn't shield her from all the darkness in his life. But he would try. He would fight with everything he had. Because he loved her.And the thought terrified him more than anything else.He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, holding her closer, letting her warmth seep into him. She was here, and she was safe. And that was enough—for now.