Ruby’s POV
I was half asleep, drifting in and out of dreams, when I instinctively turned over, my hand reaching out to find Emma. I patted the small body beside me, my fingers gently caressing what I assumed was her back. It was a comforting routine, a way to reassure her that she was safe, that I was here, and that nothing could harm her.
“Sweetheart, you’re safe now,” I whispered, the words tumbling out in a sleepy haze. The bed was warm, and the soft, steady breathing beside me was soothing, lulling me back toward the edges of sleep.
But then, a voice—low, rich, and definitely not Emma’s—cut through the quiet, jolting me awake.
“Was I not safe before?”
My eyes flew open, and I shot up in bed, heart pounding. My hand wasn’t on Emma. It was on Dominic. My breath caught in my throat a
