Neoma’s heart was heavy as Sol carried her through the night. Each step he took felt like an anchor tethering her to reality—solid, grounding, unyielding. She closed her eyes, letting the rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear lull her into a fragile sense of peace. It was strange how safe she felt in his arms, as if his presence alone was enough to shield her from the horrors that had haunted her for so long.
The distant sounds of the mansion and its chaos faded as they moved farther away. The cool night air brushed against her skin, and the scent of freedom mingled with the faint, woodsy cologne that clung to Sol. She tried to focus on the present, to relish the fact that she was no longer confined, but her mind kept returning to the weight of everything she had been through.
Tears be
