Leo’s finger lowered slowly back to the sheet, his small hand relaxing as the effort of speaking caught up with him. His eyes fluttered, exhaustion pulling him under again.
The room exhaled.
I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until it left me in a shaky rush. I smoothed Leo’s hair, murmuring soft reassurances until his breathing evened out once more.
Only then did I feel it.
Damien is behind me.
Not moving. Not speaking.
Watching.
I straightened slowly, every nerve ending screaming as I turned to face him.
He wasn’t looking at me.
He was looking at my son.
At his son.
The realization sat between us like a loaded weapon.
“He said… you’d protect us,” I said quietly, my voice tight. “You shouldn’t have promised him anything.”
Damien’s jaw flexed.
“I didn’t promise,” he re
