Nicole’s POV
I fidgeted with the pendant hanging around my neck, feeling the cool metal press against my skin, but it did little to calm the tension coiling in my stomach. Nathan had given it to me, a simple but beautiful gift, and though it was a comforting gesture, it wasn’t enough. I wanted him here, with me, not wherever he was facing this storm alone. My mind spun with worry, replaying the events of the coronation and the shock of Jake’s sudden intrusion. Nothing felt secure anymore, not even our future.
It was nearing midnight, and exhaustion had settled heavily in my bones, but I refused to go to sleep without seeing him. The worry had settled like a weight in my chest, impossible to ignore. Finally, I heard the quiet creak of the door and turned to see him standing there. Relief
