Bailey’s POV
I left Raven asleep in my room later that afternoon, standing there for a moment longer than necessary, watching the way his chest rose and fell, slow and steady, like he trusted the world enough to rest in it, and that thought alone made my chest feel tight in a way I didn’t know how to explain, so I slipped out quietly before I could change my mind.
Laila was waiting for me near the corridor like she had been unsure whether she was allowed to move or not, her hands clasped in front of her, posture too straight, eyes darting up and then away when she noticed me.
“You don’t have to look like that,” I said gently as I approached her, “I’m not going to bite.”
She smiled nervously. “I just didn’t want to be in the way.”
“You’re not in the way,” I replied, then added with a s
